Beverly Jean (Billhardt) Keyse

Beverly Jean (Billhardt) Keyse went home to her Lord on December 29, 2024.  She was born October 24, 1943, to Karl and Rose (Persanti) Billhardt.

Beverly lived on Beachview Drive in Willoughby, a short walk from the shore of Lake Erie.  She loved the lake and the beach.  As a teenager she took the Red Cross Life Saving Test on a very rough and windy day. 

In 1962 she married Ed Keyse from Madison, who also loved the lake, and they settled in Mentor.  They were 50-year plus members of the Fairport Harbor Yacht Club where she held the office of President of the Women’s Auxiliary.  Over the years they sailed their sloop “Eagle” to almost every port on both the North (Canadian) and South shores of the lake.  She made many sailor friends in Canada, and she organized “Winter Rendezvous” at Niagra Falls, which, at its peak, had 50 sailor couples from the U. S. and Canada meeting for a weekend.

Beverly was employed by Mentor Schools as a secretary and retired from Orchard Hollow after 30 years, to become the Nanny of the principal’s children.  During this time, she also attended the American Baptist Lay Pastors Seminary in Columbus on the weekends.  When Beverly graduated, she became a licensed minister in the State of Ohio and was elected Associate Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Painesville, Ohio, and was in charge of the “Caring Ministry”.   She visited people in their homes or the hospital in the four surrounding counties and never took 1 dollar for salary or mileage.  Beverly also preached and officiated at weddings and funerals.  One of the weddings was of her son Karl and his wife, Lynn.

Beverly is survived her husband, Ed Keyse; sons, Ed and Karl; brothers, Karl (Buddy) and William Billhardt; grandchildren, Emily and Adam Keyse.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Karl and Rose and her sister, Dolores “Dee” Billhardt.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on January 18, 2025, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Spear Mulqueeny Funeral Home, 667 Mentor Avenue, Painesville, Ohio 44077.  Funeral Services will follow.

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