Beverly Okrand Mark

Beverly Floria Okrand was born on December 10, 1923, to Dr. and Mrs. Charles and Sophie Okrand in Los Angeles, California. In 1935, Beverly’s younger sister, Gail, was born. They grew up in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. Beverly completed her early education graduating from John Marshall High School in 1939. She then attended and graduated from University California Los Angeles (UCLA) with a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology/Clinical Sciences.

At the age of 15, Beverly met and began dating her future husband, Howard Mark, and eventually tied the knot at the age of 20 in 1943. She began working for the United States Army/Veterans Administration at Sawtelle Army Hospital that eventually became the Veterans Administration Hospital. From there, Beverly went to work for the County of Los Angeles Health Department at the Los Angeles County Hospital. In this position, Beverly completed her California Milk Testing License which enabled her to test raw milk to determine if it met the requirements to be pasteurized; a position she held in high esteem.

In 1946, Beverly became a mother with the birth of her first child, Wendy Ann Mark. Beverly’s second child, Jay Anthony Mark, was born in 1950. At this point in her life, the family (Howard, Beverly, Wendy and Jay) moved to Encino, California, where they lived until 2003. In early 1974, Beverly became a grandmother with the birth of Wendy’s daughter, Heatherlyn Alward. In 1984, Beverly became a grandmother again with the birth of Jay’s daughter, Michelle Rosemary Mark. 2003 brought the passing of Wendy and the relocation of Beverly and Howard to Sacramento, California, to be closer to their son.

In 2011, Beverly’s husband Howard, of 68 years, passed away. Beverly continued to stay in her home that she shared with Howard for an additional nine years. In 2020, Beverly, her son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter and grandson-in-law relocated back to Southern California, specifically Huntington Beach. This move was prompted as the “Quality of Life” move and saw all five members living in one house. Living in Huntington Beach, Beverly was able to maintain an active lifestyle which included her regular hair and nail appointments, theater tickets, family outings and dinners and lots of travel.

Beverly had many interests and hobbies in her life. She loved traveling: whether it was cross-country travel with her husband in their motorhome, or traveling internationally in the 1950s when it wasn’t in vogue, to traveling on cruises with 19 of them under her belt. She loved cooking, collecting recipes, and entertaining. Beverly was actively involved with Rotary International, where she served as a Rotary Ann President, and a member of both the North Hollywood and Fair Oaks Rotary clubs. She was an avid participant in PTA while her kids were in school, holding the PTA President role for the Hesby Oaks Elementary School in Encino, California. Beverly loved playing cards and her most favorite was bridge; a love she shared her husband and several close friends. Beverly and Howard spent many years of their lives sharing in the love of boating, one that still existed up until the end for both. She was an avid reader and could read a 300-page book within 2 days.

Beverly was predeceased by her husband Howard and her daughter Wendy. Beverly was survived by her son Jay (Sarah), son-in-law Stephen (Diane), granddaughter Michelle (Justin), granddaughter Heatherlyn (Sean, Lily Ann, Emily and Garrett).

A funeral service for Beverly will be held Sunday, July 9, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Pacific View Memorial Park, 3500 Pacific View Drive, California 92625.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pacificviewcalifornia.com for the Mark family.