Mary Beverly Furlow-Cleary

Mary Beverley Furlow-Cleary, aged 84, died on December 24, 2017 at her home. She was born October 14, 1933 in Shreveport Louisiana where she enjoyed a happy childhood. She was preceded in death by her parents Prentiss Edward Furlow and Mary Thelma Findley Hasty. She was a beloved member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.   Beverley was a very remarkable and highly gifted person. Her many lifelong accomplishments, memberships and awards demonstrate and serve as tribute to all she gave to her family, our community and this world. She co-authored Thinking on the Edge, a book of essays on the highly gifted, was included in Who’s Who of American Women and made many lectures to students, parents, and civic groups  on the problems of the highly gifted as well as Nancy Drew and society ebonics.

Beverley belonged to many social groups and was presented in the 1953 Cotton Ball then Maid of Honor to the Queen in 1954. She was selected for membership in the Chattanooga Junior League and served as president of the provisional class and co-chaired a program for gifted children.

Beverley served on community boards including the Chattanooga Symphony, United Fund, and the Girl Scouts and a member of the DAR. She maintained active membership in Mensa, the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry, the Wisdom Society and the Popular Culture Society.

Beverley’s education was lifelong. She was a 1951 graduate of Girls Preparatory School and continued until 1979 whereas she obtained her AHD in Secondary Education. She attended Duke University, where she had her first short story selected for the Duke Literary magazine and was also Sweetheart of The Duke Independent Society and graduated from the University of Chattanooga and a member of Pi Beta Phi society and chosen for membership in Mortar Board.

Beverley married William L. Miles and resided on Lookout Mountain where they had 3 children. She first worked for the ManPower Development Program teaching Basic Education to people on welfare and on parole.  She returned to UTC where she earned her M.Ed. in Urban English Studies. She taught at Chattanooga State and received the Outstanding Educators Award and the Alpha Pi Omega Fraternity Teacher of the Year.

Beverley later earned her M.A.Ed. in Language and the Human Condition from the University of Chicago. She later moved to Tucson, Arizona to work at Pima Community College, the 5th largest community college in America and taught for 25 years and served as English Department Chair. She married William Peter Cleary, Army retired and remained married until death. Upon retirement, they returned back to Chattanooga and lived on Signal Mountain.

She is survived by her spouse of 29 years, William Peter Cleary, three children, Mary Findley Miles, William Prentiss Miles, Samuel Christopher Beverley Miles. She had 8 grandchildren, Michael Jackson, Mary Faulkner, Adam Miles, Holly Miles, Alex Miles, Lance Lawson, Sarah Miles, Christopher Miles and 6 great grandchildren.

Any memorial donations can be made to the Chattanooga Humane Society, or one of your choice.

A Celebration of Beverley's Life will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Saturday January 13th 2018 at 11:00 am.

Arrangements by Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel. Please share your condolences online at www.chattanoogaeastchapel.com