Beverly Jean Kehl

Beverly "Bev" Kehl departed this earth on June 2, 2025, in her home, surrounded by her family who cherished her.
Beverly Jean Allen was born on December 15, 1945, to Dorthy and Donald Allen in Moberly, Missouri. During her childhood, she loved roller skating, playing with her dogs, and spending time at her grandparents' home-where the seeds of her lifelong devotion to family were planted.
She graduated from Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia in 1963. After high school, she took typing and shorthand classes before moving to Columbia, Missouri, to begin her career with the Missouri Department of Health. On May 1, 1964, Bev married the love of her life, Paul Kehl. Together, they built a life centered around love, music, and family. On April 28, 1971, they welcomed their daughter, Lucinda "Cinda" Kehl. They filled her childhood with joyful family visits and concert road trips.
In 1993, Bev and Paul moved to Harrisburg, Missouri, along with their daughter and grandchildren, Tara and Tyler. After retiring from the State of Missouri in 1998, Bev began working at the Harrisburg Early Learning Center, where her nurturing spirit continued to shine. When her youngest grandson, Aaron, was born in 2000, Bev transitioned to full-time grandmother-staying home to care for her grandchildren and, eventually, her great-grandchildren. She filled their days with joy, stories, hugs, and unconditional love.
Bev was known for her kind heart, warm presence, and the way she made everyone feel at home. Her husband lovingly called her "Pie"-a nickname that captured her sweetness perfectly. To many, she was "everyone's grandma," always ready with a smile, a stocked snack cabinet, and a reminder of how much she loved you. Her generosity, playful sense of humor, and ability to comfort others left a lasting impression on all who knew her. She loved country music, her dogs, scrapbooking, and traveling to concerts. But her greatest joy came from being with her family and cheering on her grandsons at their sports games.
In her final days, when asked what she considered her greatest accomplishment, Bev didn't hesitate-she simply said, "My family." That was Bev: full of love, grounded in gratitude, and devoted to those she held dear. Her legacy lives on in the laughter she shared, the wisdom she passed down, and the countless memories held close by those who were blessed to know her.
Bev was preceded in death by her parents, Dorthy and Donald Allen. She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Paul Kehl; her daughter, Cinda (Charles) Mason; her grandchildren: Tara (Derek) DeVore, Tyler (Madeline) Hudlow, Aaron Hudlow, Emily Mason, and Elijah Mason; and her great-grandchildren, Luca and Vayda DeVore.
She is also survived by her aunt, Ruth Eckoff; her sisters, Denise (Rick) Bilderback and Brenda Diehl; and her nieces and nephews: Michelle (Brandon) Willis, Heather (Richard) Richardson, Brett Bilderback, Michael Bilderback, and Christopher Bilderback. Bev was also blessed with great-nieces Em Willis, Audra Willis, Lexi Bilderback, Jenni Bilderback, Sierra Bilderback, and Stormee Richardson, and great-nephews Darian Bilderback and Aiden Frieden.
A celebration of Bev's life will be held at Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel in Columbia, Missouri. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place immediately after at Harrisburg Cemetery, in Harrisburg, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to Special Olympics Missouri in Bev's honor-an organization close to their hearts.
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