Beverly June Ware

Ware/Woods (Hendy)

June 27, 1930 - October 11, 2025

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of long time Merritt resident Beverly Ware/Woods

(Hendy) on Saturday, October 11, 2025. She made it to the impressive age of 95.

Bev was born on June 27, 1930 in Kamloops BC. The Hendy family resided in Spences Bridge until Bev was 8 and then moved to Merritt where she spent her remaining 87 years. Mom and Gramma were Bev’s main titles in her lifetime, but she lived and provided for her family in many capacities over the years. Bev was probably best known for her time at The Corner Market on Coldwater Ave, where her partner Chuck and brother Phillip owned and operated the little corner store from 1980 until they sold it in 1989 and bought the Lower Nicola Trailer Park. She remained at the park until retirement in 1995. She

also spoke of her times as a cashier at Overwaitea, in the kitchen at the NV Gen. Hospital and cooking at The Valnic, Granny’s Kitchen and Mr. Mikes.

Bev was a lover of dogs, music and dancing, and her garden. She always enjoyed having dinners with her family. She was a sewing queen, a knitter of sweaters, a long time member of the Legion, the Old Time Fiddlers Square Dancers, she league bowled, floor curled at the Senior Center and in her youth played softball. We also have a picture of her playing donkey basketball, and even though we have no idea what it’s all about, it looked like a great time was being had by all. Bev always enjoyed walking with

the ladies of Lower Nicola and travelling with friends and family, which she did whenever the opportunity presented itself.

It is incredibly difficult to fit 95 years of such a tenacious woman into a couple of paragraphs.

Bev is Mother to Karen (Darrel) Schafer, Gerry Ware, Kellie Lawrence and Michelle (Joel) Coulombe. She is Gramma (Gma) to Gitane and Devin Coulombe, Susan, Joann and Anna-Marie Ware and Justin, Katrina and Krysta Lawrence. She is also a Great and Great Great Gramma, she is an Aunt, a Great Aunt and a Great Great Aunt too. She has many extended family members as well. Bev was predeceased by her partner Chuck Woods (1999), her son Brent Woods (1997), her daughter Terry Ware (1964) and siblings Joyce Mynott, Phillip and Melville Hendy. We pray she is now with all those that she

loved that went before her, including her dogs, Tessa and Oreo.

For everyone that had the occasion to care for Bev (Bevy) at Gillis House during her stay, it was apparent that she was well loved by many. Thank you, you know who you are. Please know everything you did and do is appreciated and will be remembered.

If you have a story or a picture to share about Bev, please do below, on this website.