Beverly Neadle

Beverly E. Neadle, 88, passed away peacefully at home in Lake Havasu City, AZ on February 17, 2026.

Born May 4, 1937 in Albany, New York, Beverly was the firstborn child of Mildred and Bernard Mericle. Along with her younger brothers, Dudley and Dean, she attended Duanesburg Central schools. As a teenager she kept busy by babysitting, attending church functions, and in the summer, she waitressed at a dude ranch in the Adirondack Mountains. Leon Neadle invited her to attend the Prom in her senior year of high school; from that time forward, he was the love of her life. After graduation in 1955, Beverly traveled to Holland, Michigan with her cousin Rob to attend Hope College where she majored in elementary education. On June 7, 1958 she and Leon were married in Delanson, New York. Their union lasted over 67 years. During that time they welcomed four children: Lori (Petrelli), Jacquelyn (Lutz), Eric, and Marie (Fasching). In February 1972 Leon and Beverly took a McCulloch flight to the newly developed desert town of Lake Havasu City in sunny Arizona. They purchased a piece of property, and in October of 1974, the couple bravely loaded their station wagon filled with kids, attached a U-Haul full of essentials and headed west. The family settled in and grew. Over time four more loving family members were added: Ronald Petrelli, Zachary Lutz, Brandon Fasching, and Rebecca Jacobson. Six grandchildren followed: Christopher Ian Lutz (Juanita), Jessica Lutz Todd (Brian), Amanda Petrelli Radakovich (Mike), Alissa Petrelli Graunke (Andrew), Emily Fasching, and Jack Fasching.

For many years, Beverly was a Media Specialist/Librarian assistant at Havasupai Elementary School. She touched the lives of countless students with the importance of reading books. In her writings to her grandchildren she included this passage, "Education is very important to me and I am a lifetime learner." Other interests of hers included sewing, knitting, reading, cooking, and genealogy. As a proud member of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Colonial Dames XVII Century, she displayed her love of leadership and had roles from Chaplain to State President. All of her life, she loved to travel; vacations to Maine, Cape Cod, Florida, Hawaii, Oregon, California, Canada, Bermuda, and Europe brought her great joy. From 2004-2024 Beverly and Leon escaped the summer heat of Arizona to their second home in Saratoga Springs, New York. They enjoyed family gatherings, horse racing, local history, dining out, and greener scenery.

The most important role of her life was that of wife and mother. Those that knew her well understood the significance of her protected family time. Rarely did she allow her children to be away from the dinner table; friends were welcome to join the meal, but her children had to be present. Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday; each year every family member came from near and far to savor her delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings. She seasoned every meal with wisdom and love.

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Bernard Dudley Mericle and his wife, Claudia. She is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren and four great grandchildren: Roux Radakovich, Chloe Todd, Theodore Graunke, and Jane Graunke, as well as, her brother, Dean Mericle and his wife, Sharon, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and beloved friends.

Services will be held at Our Lady of the Lake Church on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 11:00 am followed by a reception in St. Joseph's Hall. Burial will be held later this year in New York.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the scholarship fund of Havasu Chapter NSDAR in her honor.