Beverly A Laier

Daughter of Forest & Dorothy Sellers and sister, Margret McKinney, (deceased) and brother, James Sellers (deceased).

• Survived by her nephews’ wife Lois, and three great-nephews and their family’s.

• Very special friends to Bob & Nancy Stoll and Andra Fraser

• Graduated Aberdeen High School in Indiana in 1945, moved to Indianapolis, IN to attend Butler University where she played in the band and studied music.

She met Leo J. Laier a WWII, Combat Wounded D-Day Veteran who was recovering from his wounds, attending college and studying music. They dated, and in July 1949 married. After he graduated they moved back to Ft. Wayne, IN where he taught school and she worked as a church musician.

In college, she played the baritone horn, and Leo played the trombone. She would joke that she was always following behind him. Throughout her career she played organ and piano for several different churches. In 1961, they moved to Sarasota and bought Mathis Music Store. They also stayed involved in the field of instruments, teaching, performing and playing in bands around the area. Leo was the conductor for the Paine Park Concert Band until the county closed the program. He and several others from the band started the Sarasota Suncoast Concert Band. He was the conductor for a total of 46 years with Beverly participating in multiple roles in the percussion section and Librarian until she was 94 when retiring after 43 years. Very passionate about the band and proud of their accomplishments. This legacy is carried on today by Bob current conductor and his wife, Nancy Stoll. The Sarasota Suncoast Concert Band continues holding several concerts through the winter months at North Minster Presbyterian Church in Sarasota.

Beverly and Leo lived an active life traveling many places around the world and the US. They lived the last 28 years at Oakwood Manor Park in Sarasota, and enjoyed a time share at Smugglers Cove on Anna Maria, and a summer cottage in Rome City, IN.

Bev’s hobbies included reading, taking care of her flower garden, music, crocheting, knitting (10 or 12 baby blankets for the great nephew’s children, all but the last two and had started one before her passing). She loved bridge, (played 2 to 3 times a week until just recently) loved going to Charlies for breakfast, working on puzzles, and at DeSota Palms discovered she liked bingo. I tried to get her involved with exercise class, but she wasn’t have any of that, she’d just give me a grinned smile, that I am sure you all remember.

In Place of Flowers requested a memorial contribution to First Congregational UCC & Tidewell Hospice.

A visitation for Beverly will be held Tuesday, April 25, 2023 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at First Congregational Church, 1031 S Euclid Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237. Followed by a funeral service at 1:30 PM. Committal service will occur Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL 34232.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmsrobartsfuneralhome.com for the Laier family.