Family will be receiving friends at Kilgore-Green Funeral Home, on Saturday, April 13, 2024, from 12 until 2 p.m. Services will follow in the Kilgore-Green Chapel at 2 p.m., with burial at Walker Memory Gardens.
Born on May 3, 1930, in Pea Ridge, Alabama, Loyce was the beloved daughter of humble tenant farmers John W. Kimbrell and Cora James Kimbrell. In 1951, as fate would have it, Loyce met Raymond Bevan, her beloved husband-to-be, while singing at a funeral they both attended. Just two short months after meeting, they exchanged vows, marking the beginning of a remarkable life journey together.
After completing her education at Berry High School in 1948, Loyce embarked on a career in nursing at Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa. After marrying Raymond, her life's mission took a dramatic turn as she wholeheartedly embraced her new role as a devoted homemaker and mother to their children. Loyce's life was a harmonious blend of family devotion and a passion for music. Proficient at the piano, guitar, organ, and accordion, she shared her musical talents with loved ones, creating a lifetime of joyful melodic memories. Loyce's legacy of love and service reached far beyond her immediate family. As a pastor's wife, she embraced her role with grace and dedication, always seeking first to share the message of Jesus Christ with others.
Her faith was evident in her compassionate and devoted care for her parents, particularly her mother, whom she nursed for the final 11 years of her life in her own home. Despite facing adversity later in life—including a tragic accident at the age of 81 that left her wheelchair-bound—Loyce remained steadfast both in her faith and love for music. She continued to inspire others with her resilience and unwavering spirit, playing her beloved instruments for as long as she was able.
Loyce is survived by her devout husband of 72 years, Raymond Bevan of Greenville, North Carolina; her daughter Raetta Bevan Fountain (Wyatt); grandchildren Jonathon, Joshua, Joel, Adam, Kyle, Nicole, Peyton, Sarah, Grace, and Anna; numerous great-grandchildren; as well as nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her sons Gary and Ronald, her parents, and her siblings Nolan, Cleston, Dwight, James, and Christine.
In every role she embraced—as a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend—Loyce Lorene Bevan embodied the virtues of love, faith, and selflessness. Her legacy of kindness and devotion will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to know her. May her soul find eternal peace in the loving embrace of her Savior.
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