Gary Merle Beverlin

GARY MERLE BEVERLIN Gary Merle Beverlin went to be with the Lord on November 17, 2025, at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, with his loving wife of 53 years by his side at the age of 72 years and 11 months. Gary was born December 17, 1952, in Trenton, Missouri, to Charles Herman and Laura Francis Lankford Beverlin. He grew up on the family farm west of Spickard, attending West Fairview, a one-room schoolhouse, and later attending Trenton R-9. Gary graduated from Trenton High School in 1971. He then attended Chillicothe Technical School, earning an auto mechanics certificate. Later, he also earned a teaching certificate to teach building trades. Gary was married to Debra Gayle Perry on June 16, 1972, in Spickard, Missouri. To this union were born Carey Dale, Brooke Larae, and Kyle Wade. As a young married couple, they lived in various communities, making their way back to their home area, setting up dairy farms in Grundy and Mercer Counties. They eventually moved to Trenton to finish raising their children. In 2020, they purchased a small acreage outside of Bethany, Missouri, where Gary designed and built their new home. He enjoyed raising sheep and gardening, allowing him to get back to the rural farming roots that he loved. Gary was 25 years old when he came to know the Lord and was baptized at the First Christian Church in Spickard, Missouri. He loved the Lord and grew in his faith. He rededicated his life to the Lord and was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Bethany in April of 2021. He was ordained as a Deacon at the First Baptist Church in Bethany, Missouri, on September 21, 2025. The greatest motivation in his life was his family. He was Debbie's constant companion. You rarely saw one without the other. He was her caregiver when she had her own health crisis, battling breast cancer in 2018. Together, they made sure their children were raised in the church. They took any available opportunity to travel and camp together. They especially enjoyed the beaches of Lake Michigan and attending shows at the Sights and Sounds theater in Branson. Gary also spent many hours coaching, traveling, and watching his children play sports - from small children to their college careers and later his grandchildren. He rarely missed an opportunity to watch them or to brag about them to others. Gary took great pride in teaching his boys to hunt, fish, and enjoy the outdoors. He spent endless hours with Brooke at the softball fields. He never missed an opportunity to spend time with them and was always in teaching mode. Gary worked a variety of jobs throughout his life, from mechanics, farming, maintenance at North Central Missouri College, his own plumbing business, and a building codes inspector. He always worked to serve others. One of the highlights of his work life was teaching a building trades class at Gilman City school. There, he built relationships with a group of young men that he calls "his boys" to this day. In his retirement, Gary enjoyed being a substitute teacher, gaining a whole new set of kids. Gary could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, at any time. He did not know a stranger. He could talk about the Lord, politics, sports, and his family at the drop of a hat, sharing his strong convictions. He was a big dreamer, a lifelong learner, and always had ideas ahead of his time. He could build or create anything he set his mind to, including a dune buggy and a fishing boat in the basement. He was the go-to guy when anything needed fixing, and he did so with a willing heart. He loved music. He could play the guitar and enjoyed singing. He also spent hours researching his Native American ancestry and learning about his family heritage. Gary is survived by his wife Debbie of the home: three children, sons Carey (Audra), Trenton, MO, Kyle (Christy) Beverlin, Webb City, MO, and daughter Brooke (Bryan) Barnett, Bethany, MO. Grandchildren Lane (Emma) Beverlin, Chillicothe, MO, Hunter Beverlin and companion Presley Wells, Trenton, MO, Marshall Norris and companion Alyssa Andrew, Megan Norris and Bailey Barnett, all of Bethany, MO, Luke, Maecy, Titus, and Joel Beverlin, all of Webb City, MO. Great-grandchildren Eastan and Amryn Norris. Brothers Mike (Pam) Beverlin, Garden City, KS, and Larry (Lana) Beverlin, Trenton, MO. Sister-in-law Darlene Beverlin, Maryland. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Gary was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother, Billy Jo Beverlin. Luke 17:10 "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty'." Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 21, at the First Baptist Church, Bethany, MO, under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Burial will follow in the Masonic Cemetery, Spickard, MO. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the church. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Student Camp Scholarship Fund in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com