Beverly Jo Howard, 86, formerly of Kansas City, Kansas, passed away on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, surrounded by family.
Beverly was born Oct. 7, 1938, to Evelyn Mae and Joe William Franklin Logan in Kansas City, Kansas, where she attended Washington High School.
On April 29, 1963, Beverly married Kenneth Howard Jr. and lovingly recalled being 18 when she first saw him enter the Ranch Bowl bowling center in Wyandotte County for league competition and instantly fell in love. The couple went on to raise three children, each of whom graduated from the University of Kansas – a life experience that became a broader source of pride for the family. All told, 10 immediate family members – their children and their spouses, along with three grandchildren — now call KU their alma mater.
When not doting on her family as a homemaker, Beverly worked in the school kitchen at Eisenhower Junior High School in Kansas City, Kansas.
Beverly was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose family was her priority, illustrated in her final days by the outpouring of joy she displayed during bedside visits and conversations with loved ones, most notably her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed watching the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, Jayhawk basketball, and her grandsons’ high school and college games.
A devoted Christian whose faith defined her character, she was a member for more than four decades of the Maywood Community Church in Kansas City, Kansas.
Survivors include two daughters, Vonnie and husband Jim Suhr, and Terri and husband Phil Thomas; a son, Kenneth and wife Jane Howard; two sisters, Linda Benson, and Kathy and husband Rich Hinkle; five grandchildren, Taylor and husband Brady Forbes, Abby and husband Brent Guiser, Lauren Walbert, Nick Howard and Luke Howard; and three great-grandchildren, Grayson Forbes, Henry Guiser and Lily Forbes.
She was preceded in death in 2022 by her husband of nearly 59 years, Kenneth, and the family finds solace in the wonderment of Beverly’s long-anticipated reunion with her soulmate.
Beverly also was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Shirley Hudkins.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, at Porter Funeral Home, 1835 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, followed by services there at 11 a.m. Private family burial services will be at Maywood Cemetery, next to the church.
Pallbearers will be Nick Howard, Luke Howard, Brady Forbes, Brent Guiser, Trenton Sadrakula and Evan Sadrakula.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Beverly’s memory may be made to the Maywood Community Church, 11201 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS., 66109, with funds to be directed to its Ladies Council.