It is with deep sorrow and endless love that we share the peaceful passing of our beloved Beverly Jean (Hobson) Walsh on December 19, 2025, after her 14-month journey with small-cell lung cancer. She was at home in Oceanside, California, with the love of her life, Jerry, and her youngest child, Adrienne, by her side, surrounded by her meticulously pruned roses and the brilliant rainbows from her prism collection. 

Bev was born to Lila (King) and Jesse “Bud” Hobson on June 14, 1944, in Sidney, Nebraska. Bev’s artistic and musical talents were nurtured on the family farm just outside of Lodgepole. From her mother, she learned to sew, cook, can, skate, sing, and play an old pump organ. Her father taught her to be a resourceful and creative problem solver.

A gifted academic, she attended Lodgepole High School, played volleyball, sang in the choir, was a majorette, played the clarinet in the school band, and graduated valedictorian of her class. During this time, she met the love of her life, Jerry Walsh. She continued her education at Kearny State College. Bev and Jerry attended college together and were married on September 4, 1965.

After graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1966, she fulfilled her childhood dream and became a teacher with degrees in home economics and art. During her first teaching position in Ord, NE, Bev designed and implemented an art curriculum for grades 6-12 and then received the Outstanding Young Educator award. In 1971 She and Jerry took their show on the road to Lusk, Wyoming where they would remain for 29 years as proud parents, community leaders and passionate professionals.

Bev became a substitute teacher until she was hired by Eastern Wyoming College to develop the new community education program for Niobrara County. The program helped county residents obtain GED certificates, associate degrees, and previous college students could continue their coursework via UW extension classes. Bev’s vision enriched not only the academic offerings but also invited and inspired community members to become instructors for an array of non-credit courses ranging from ancient history to cake decorating.

 She offered courses for children, such as Super Saturday, a day-long workshop extravaganza for young learners, one of her proudest accomplishments. As a community leader, she helped bring ballet and children’s theater to the county and organized bus trips that exposed residents to experiences not offered locally. Bev’s strategic oversight on a task force helped bring the Wyoming Women’s Prison to Lusk, and then, once operating, she implemented educational services for incarcerated women.

 Bev convened key community citizens to develop the first county-wide health fairs, championed Arts Etc., a local arts council, and the Lusk recycling project. During her 26-year career, Bev was selected by the Wyoming Arts Council as a consultant to provide training for communities across the state and also received the Outstanding Educator award for her efforts in furthering educational opportunities for all ages.

 After retiring in 2000, she and Jerry left Wyoming winters behind and moved to Oceanside, California close to their children. Bev capitalized on volunteering for arts organizations that included ushering at two live theaters and seizing opportunities at the Oceanside Museum of Art where she developed a membership recruitment program and became a sought-after docent. Bev and Jerry found themselves surrounded by wonderful neighbors and then, an incredible faith community at Oceanside First Presbyterian church where Bev resumed her role as a lifelong alto in the choir. In Oceanside, neighbors, fellow volunteers, choirmates and parishioners quickly became some of her closest friends.

 As an accomplished artist and lifelong learner, Bev returned to painting. She took classes and nurtured the creativity in her talented grandchildren as they pursued music, sewing, visual arts and theatre. With 365 days of sun and good weather in California, her roses and gardens became another canvas for expression. Bev’s garden, a slice of heaven on Earth, remains a place of intense beauty, love and serenity for the entire family. Bev treasured “magic time”, the moment as late afternoon turns to evening when her twinkly lights ignite and the colors of her breathtaking garden burst. She and Jerry loved to travel and did so as much as possible both internationally and state-side. Together they devoured local history, cuisine and culture and brought back precious stories of friendships struck up in a pub or of detours that brought unexpected delight. Her mantra for all was “Don’t wait! Just GO and DO and SEE”.

Grammy was the biggest fan of her children and seven grandchildren. She danced and played on the floor, endured many hours of cartoons, sewed costumes, got messy and was unafraid of being silly. She created lullabies for each of her children and grandchildren and sang to all of them, a core memory etched upon each small heart she touched. She traveled coast to coast to hold newborns, watch concerts, cheer at sporting events, attend graduations, help with moves, renovate homes and lead memorable adventures.

During the last 14 months of her life, Bev faced Small Cell Lung Cancer in partnership with an incredible care team at City of Hope in Duarte, California. She was fueled by infectious optimism, her personal mantra, “Another Day Another Adventure”, her faith, and the love of her family and friends from across the country. Bev’s ability to remain positive and find beauty and laughter through this challenging journey are an indelible part of her legacy.

An effervescent educator, singer, seamstress, artist, gardener, composer, author, entertainer, friend, mother, Grammy-extraordinaire and wife beyond compare Bev’s light continues to shine all around us.
Bev is survived by her husband Jerry Walsh Oceanside, CA; daughter Chandra Williams (Joe) Falls Church, VA; son Jason Walsh San Clemente, CA; daughter Adrienne Gibson (Jake) Whittier, CA; sister, Cherrill Rozzell of Knoxville, TN; brother Randy Hobson (Nyla) of Sydney, NE; sister and brother-in-law Connie and Archie Devereux; 7 grandchildren (Alexandra, Lila, Joseph, Vivian, Jesse, Aria and Ophelia) and many nieces and nephews.

Bev was emphatic that only celebrations with laughter, bubbles and music would be allowed. With her wishes in mind, plans are in the works to share her artwork, roses and rainbows at a time that feels right, when all is in bloom. Should you want to honor Bev’s memory, consider a donation to any of the following organizations:
Friends of the Library in Lusk, Wyoming: https://www.niobraracountylibrary.org/donate/
Oceanside First Presbyterian Church Choir: https://www.oceansidechurchandpreschool.org/giving
City of Hope, Duarte, California-Lung Cancer Research: https://ourhope.cityofhope.org/campaign/689967/donate