Beverly Davis

Born September 10, 1939 in Peoria to Wilbert Lee and Letha LaVerne (Smith) Kelley, she married Robert W. Davis on February 3, 1962 in Bartonville. They later divorced.

Surviving are two sons, Kelley Sean (Pam) Davis of St. Charles, Missouri and Robert Patrick (Lynnette) Davis of Pekin; four grandsons, Brian Davis of Warrensburg, Missouri, Tony (Laynie) Davis of Bloomington, Josh Davis and Jared Davis, both of Pekin; one granddaughter, Amanda Jo Davis of Manito and one great-grandchild, Michonne Davis.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Patsy Lee Bleakley.

Bev graduated from Limestone Community High and Brown’s Business College and attended Illinois Central College.

She was an obituary writer at the Peoria Journal Star for 20 years, retiring February 28, 2007. She also had been a deputy clerk for the Tazewell County Clerk, worked at Pekin Today Newspaper for Tazewell Publishing Co. and the Pekin Area Vocational Center.

She was a former member of the Peoria Singletons and Helpmates at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Bev was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin. She was a former member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Peoria Heights.

Her funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday, September 1, 2023 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin. Father Michael Andrejek will be the celebrant. Rosary will be recited beginning at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Visitation will follow from 5 to 7 p.m. Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 303 South 7th Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554 or American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, Virginia 22116-7023.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com