Beverly McNall

Beverly McNall passed away peacefully on April 6, 2017, at Hearthstone Village, surrounded by family.

Beverly Janet Marley was born in Jackson, Minnesota, on Sept. 9, 1924, to Roy and Anna Marley. She was the first of four children. She had two sisters, Bernice and Virginia, and a brother, Leland (Bud). She graduated from Jackson High School in 1942. During the war, she worked in a defense plant in Fairmont, Minnesota. In 1945, the family sold their farm and moved to Sandpoint, where they joined other members of the Marley family.

After arriving, she got a job at the meat locker working for her uncle, Emmett Marley. It was a time before home freezers. Everyone had a meat locker, including the McNalls. When Francis would come in, Emmett would nudge her and say, “There’s the guy for you, Bev.” After working for the locker for about a year, she had the opportunity to go to work for Mrs. Gertrude Bauer, county superintendent of schools.

Beverly’s folks loved to dance, so they started going to the Selle and Oden Halls for dances, and Beverly would accompany them. That is where she got to know Francis. When Francis tells the story, he says, “When she walked in, she was the prettiest girl in the place. I knew that was the girl I was going to marry.” They were married on Sept. 15, 1947.

Beverly and Francis raised seven children on the family farm on Grouse Creek. Beverly was the most loving wife, mother and grandma. Her kindheartedness and warmth made her house like a second home to her entire family. She was a longtime caregiver of her mother-in-law, and later cared for Francis’ aunt in Cheney. Her loving nature didn’t stop there; she often took neighbor ladies to run errands in town, and was the first one to volunteer when help was needed. She was famous for being a wonderful and generous cook. Anyone who showed up was asked, “Have you eaten?,” and regardless of their answer, the food was brought out.

Beverly was a member of the Chatterbees, Bonner County Cattle Women, Grouse Creek Ladies, and Selle Ladies. She enjoyed her time with friends and helping in the community. Many of “Mr. McNall’s” former students remember her famous scalloped potatoes and sloppy joes on homemade rolls following field trips to the McNall farm.

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Anna Marley; her brother, Bud Marley; sister, Virginia McGill; son, Alan McNall; son-in-law, John Meredith; granddaughter-in-law, Shanna McNall; brother-in-law, Harvey Christophel; and sister-in-law, Lois Westfall (Paul).

She is survived by her husband of nearly 70 years, Francis McNall; her children, Jim McNall (Susan), Dennis McNall (Kristi), Louise Wood (Steve), daughter-in-law Robyn Ross, Liz Wood (Bert), Janice Riley (Todd), and Rose Ropp (Brad); her grandchildren, Brianna McNall, Brady McNall, Aaron McNall, Michele Morasch (Richard), Jody Russell (Todd), Tina Johnson (Scott), Dan McNall (Amanda), Lindsay Ducken (Clint), Jamie Williams (Brad), Leslie Lippert (Harvey), Brenda Kertu (Carl), Amy Robertson (Ben), Kate Wood, Erica Wood, Natasha Albertson (Nick), Alexis Riley, Taylor Riley, Ilene Rainey (John) and Monica Reeves (Steve); 32 great-grandchildren; sister Bernice Christophel, brother-in-law Vincent McNall (Betty), brother-in-law Arnold McGill, numerous nieces and nephews, and her Hearthstone family.

Visitation will be at Coffelt Funeral Services on Friday, April 7, from 1 to 6 p.m. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 8 at Northside Christian Fellowship, 4400 Colburn Culver Road, Sandpoint, with a reception to follow. Interment will be at a later date at Pack River Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to a charity of choice in Beverly’s memory.

Family and friends are invited to sign Beverley’s online guest book at coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.