Beverly Wills Rase

Beverly Wills Bonelli Rase was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 14, 1928. Her parents were Venne Wills Bonelli, the eldest of six in the Wills clan, and Louis Benedict Bonelli, the owner of The Bonelli Insurance Agency.

Mrs. Rase graduated from Dana Hall Preparatory School and Wellesley College, majoring in History of Art. She taught at The Fort Worth Children’s Museum, edited the West Side Post, and organized the Fort Worth Wellesley Club. On June 12, 1954, she married Professor Howard Frederick Rase, who taught Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas, Austin. In Austin she served for four terms as president of the Wellesley Club and was founding co-chairman of the Wellesley Children’s Art Show. Mrs. Rase served as the Wellesley Fund Director for the Texas-Louisiana District and organized the Eastern College Parent’s Committee. She helped organize the Laguna Gloria Woman’s Art Guild and the first Laguna Gloria Fiesta. She was first vice-president of Laguna Gloria Art Museum, Inc. and was president of The Texas Fine Arts Association. Mrs. Rase formed The Elisabet Ney Museum Guild and was its first president. Her community work included leading a Camp Fire Group and being Program Director of the Austin Area Camp Fire Association. In 1970 she was President of Casis School PTA.

In 1971, Mrs. Rase recognized the need for an affordable private school in Austin, so she started work on what would become Kirby Hall School. Loan officers and landlords consistently said no to the mother with a history of art degree, but she did not take no for an answer. In 1976, Kirby Hall enrolled its first students, and, for decades afterward, she served as director and chairman of the board. The school is renowned for academic excellence, evidenced by a history of decisive wins in the Private School Interscholastic Association (PSIA) competition. Mrs. Rase’s theory of academic excellence was founded on three convictions: Give teachers the independence to do their best; teach a child to read early, but most importantly “Be sweet to the children.” She believed this to be the best way to engage young minds in service of the goal of creating lifelong learners and good citizens.

For the last two years, she enjoyed residing in Dallas, where she moved to be closer to her family. We thank all at Edgemere who made her feel so welcome and elegantly cared for. Her friends at Edgemere and all who knew Beverly will remember her beautiful smile, her indefatigably positive outlook, her love, and her freely given support of the aspirations of family and friends.

Mrs. Rase’s funeral will be held at a family cemetery plot in Fort Worth. She is preceded in death by her husband, Howard, and survived by daughter Victoria Rase Shinn and husband Gregory Shinn, their children: Carolyn Shinn Armbruster and husband Barret, and Kathryn Shinn; her son Howard Rase, Jr., his wife, Caroline Pham, and their children, Ty Howard and Eloise; her sister Diana Bonelli Cunningham and husband Atlee, and beloved extended family. Instead of flowers, gifts in her honor may be made to the Beverly B. Rase Memorial Fund for Teacher Development and Support, Kirby Hall School, 306 West 29th Street, Austin, Texas, 78705.