Beverly Ann Cantrell

Beverly Ann Cantrell, age 91, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2021, at her home in El Paso, Texas. She was born on October 13, 1929, in St. Joseph, Missouri to Edna Mae Tiller and Orville Henry Smith. A child during the Great Depression, Beverly held a lifelong aptitude for resourcefulness and ingenuity. Beverly was a military spouse, then lived on a farmhouse in Kansas where she chopped firewood, cultivated a large and always bountiful garden, and cared for many dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs and all other animals who needed a home. A passionate outdoorsman, she was always the one to lead a hike and the first to catch a fish. She was affectionately known by her grandchildren as “Tootsie,” and many who loved her would use this heartfelt moniker.

In the mid-90’s, Beverly joined her active duty soldier son, John, at his station in Germany. Beverly’s sharp wit and banter made her the life of military parties, dinners, and balls she attended frequently. Beverly made the most of her time abroad, traveling to different European countries, sunning on Italian beaches, enjoying all the local cuisines, and making friends with everyone – whether they could speak the same language or not. In 2001, Beverly moved to El Paso, Texas, where she would become a connoisseur of delicious Mexican food and touch the lives of many.

Beverly will be remembered for her delicious cooking, her humor and wit, and being a nurturing caretaker to many. She tackled even the most advanced crossword puzzle with ease.

She is survived by her two beloved sons, John Cantrell (El Paso, Texas) and Paul Cantrell (Surprise, Arizona), her two daughters, Janice and Nancy, and her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and “adopted” grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husbands Ralph Cantrell and Harry L. Black.