She was born Florence Beverly Rich on October 7, 1918 in Melstone, Montana, to Janet and Lawrence Rich. As most frontier Americans of the day she endured the challenges of frontier life living in a log cabin built by her father. She attended school in a one room school taught by her mother. This contributed to her undying optimism and hardy spirit. Living in eastern Montana and being taught by her mother also gave her a passion for general sciences and a love of fossil hunting.
She was the oldest of three children. Her brother, Clarence Rich, joined the Navy and was the Commander of the airbase in El Centro, CA and has since passed away. Her other brother, Charles Rich, joined the Merchant Marine in his youth and later ran his father's ranch with his wife Pohney both of whom are deceased.
Unlike most women of her day she attended college at Montana State, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1940. She attended her 70th college reunion in 2010 with her daughter-in-law Monica zumFelde.
Before finding a job in her field, she taught school in the oil fields of Cat Creek, MT. She began her career as a Medical Technologist in Helena, Montana during World War II. It was here that she met her first husband Orrin McNally follow a training accident in the First Special Service Force. They married on Christmas Eve 1942. He was deployed when their daughter, Sandra Ann McNally was born. Orrin was killed in Italy the day after she was born.
Still in Montana, at the Great Falls Air Base she met Caesar Lorie who would become her husband of 44 years. They married on August 4, 1945. They had three children, Linda, Bruce and Greg.
After raising and sending four children out into the world, she got her drivers license at age 50, and went to work at St. Francis in Peoria where she worked and taught for the next 20 years. While working at St. Francis, she met her lifelong friend Lou Pascual. As both ladies became widowed, Lou and Beverly would travel the country and world on vacations, seeing Hawaii, Europe, the Philippines, Panama, Italy to name a few of their trips. This invigorated her traveler spirit.
In the community she was a member of the Normal Civilian Police, the Home Sweet Home Auxiliary and volunteered at the Mission, the AMBUCS, a group dedicated to building ramps for disabled Americans and her church First United Methodist of Normal. This was all part of her spirit of helping.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, both her husband’s: Orrin McNally and Caesar Lorie. As well as her brothers, Clarence Rich and wife Ann, Chuck Rich and wife Pohney. Also her sisters in law Opal (McNally) Fitch, Grace (McNally) Waadevig, Ann (McNally) Peterson, Dorothy McNally Drummond and Vera McNally Northrup, Betty McNally Meyer brothers in law Robert McNally, William McNally, Jr. Sally Loria Bavido, Eugene Loria, and Teresa Loria Perrin
She is survived by her daughters, Sandra (McNally) Pate and husband Tom, Linda Kouba and husband Richard. Sons, Bruce Lorie and wife Sandra, Greg Lorie and wife Monica zum Felde. Sister in law Lila (McNally) Valentine and Helen McNally and Ann (Loria) Forte. Also 8 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 13 great great grandchildren.
In lieu of flower please make donations to either AMBUCS or the Home Sweet Home mission in Bloomington.
A visitation will be held at East Lawn Funeral Home 10AM-11AM on Friday the 17th with a funeral service immediately following. Burial will follow at Park Hill Cemetery: 1105 S Morris Ave, Bloomington, IL.
