Date of Death: August 27, 2025
Service Details
Her family will receive friends Saturday, September 27, 2025 beginning with a 10 a.m. viewing and the service following at 11 a.m. at Three Rivers Bible Church, 220 N. Erie St. with Pastor Jeff Homan officiating. She will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery at a later date.
Obituary Notice
Beverly Jean Smith Garvey, 97, passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at Birch Meadows Senior Care.
She was born February 27, 1928 in Muskegon, the daughter of Victor E. and Emma (Anderson) Smith.
On August 14, 1947 Bev married Douglas B. Garvey, becoming his partner in life and later in business. She was part-owner of Gar-V Manufacturing and Fastener Coatings, and often would do secretarial work for those businesses in the evenings.
She enjoyed traveling and camping. She loved hot dogs and marshmallows over a campfire. Her talents included sewing, knitting, decorating, and cooking. She made jams, jellies, juices, sauces, and delicious pies – especially cherry. Pork and beef roasts cooked together were a favorite family meal.
For Bev, holidays were always a special event, especially the Christmas season. All of December was spent baking, decorating, and wrapping all of the many wonderful gifts we got. The family still cherishes the memories of Christmas and refers to them as the best Christmases ever. Probably the most treasured of her treats at Christmas were her pecan sticky buns and fudge. For Valentine’s Day, she always made a cherry-walnut heart shaped cake for Doug. Doug always brought her carnations and chocolates. She loved playing pranks on Halloween and baked green cake on St. Patrick’s Day.
Bev lived a faith filled life, creating a beautiful home for her husband and children. An empty nest was a very difficult adjustment for her. Eventually, she found a love for tennis that became a life-long passion, which she shared with Doug and Merri. And nothing gave her more pleasure than her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Following in her own mother’s footsteps, if she had a baby to cuddle and rock, no one else had the chance.
Remaining to cherish her memory are her children, Gae, Michael (Kay), Joy and Merri (Christopher); daughter-in-law, Lynelle; grandchildren, Carly (Courtney), Joshua (Maria), Benjamin, Garvey, Max, and Paige; great-grandchildren, Madison, Kai’Lee, Grace, Asiah (Zachary), Julie, Gabriel, and Nicholas; and many dearly-loved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Doug; son, Mitchell; and grandson, Jacob Haines.
Additional Information
Donations in Bev’s memory may be directed to Three Rivers Bible Church. Envelopes will be available at the church and at Hohner Funeral Home.
Please Leave Your Condolences
When your condolences are submitted they will not display until approved by the Hohner staff for appropriateness out of respect for their memory. They should appear within 24 hours or less. Thank you for your understanding.
My deepest condolence to the family for the death of your cherished loved one. I hope the scriptures at Revelation 21:3,4 as well as 1 Corinthians 15:25 give you some comfort and encouragement as we look forward to a better world, that’s soon to come (Psalm 37:10,11).
Gae,
May you and your family find comfort and laughter with each other by sharing fun memories, stories and childhood recollections about Bev, your Mother.
Peace
Jackie and Vernon Town
Both Mr. and Mrs. Garvey were so kind and generous to me during my childhood. When I would walk through their front door, Mr. Garvey always greeted me with one word, “daughter”. Mrs. Garvey always had cucumbers in the fridge for me. And then there were the trips to Florida! Also, they raised Merri to be a kind and loving person. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends in all of them.
Joy, I’m so very sorry for your loss of your mother. She was a very sweet and kind neighbor. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Joy, I’m sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing. What a wonderful full life she had. I always remember her with you. You were a very good, dutiful daughter. Focus on the memories.
Joy I will never forget going to a concert with your parents in Indiana it is a wonderful memory of them.
She was a delightful lady. I always enjoyed seeing her. Our condolences.
So sorry for the Garvey families loss. Mrs. Garvey was such a great host. Loved all the times I had at their home. My heart goes out to you. She will be missed by so many.
Oh Joy, I’m so sorry for your loss. My heartfelt condolences and prayers to you and your family 🙏
I am so very sorry for your loss. I knew Bev from Nettles she lived down the street from me..Such a kind and gentle person. I have been gone from Nettles for 20 years and often wondered about her.. My husband used to fish with Doug and when my husband passed she was so kind to me.. I’m sure she is leaving a big emptiness in your lives..
I only knew Bev for three short months. What a blessing it was for me! I so enjoyed her deep faith, her sincere caring for the well being of others, and her subtle wit. We’ll surely miss her sitting across the table from us at meal times.
So very sorry for your loss.
Oh Joy, I am so sorry to see this! I loved talking with your mom (and you 🙂 ) I know that you all have great memories and in that will find comfort in the upcoming days. Hugs to you!
I know Joy, her daughter. My condolences to the family.