January 22, 1921 – June 18, 2018
James Wayne Bevis, Age 97, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, died peacefully in Woodbridge, VA. He was married to Mary Adeline (Parnell), for 72 years, and they enjoyed a rich and varied life.
He was born near Rocky Mount, North Carolina, where his father was a carpenter/handyman who could build or fix nearly anything. That skill rubbed off on him. His parents moved to Alexandria, Virginia during the Great Depression, seeking work in the Alexandria rail yards. They built a rural home on the bluffs overlooking Cameron Station. While his father worked in the rail yards, his mother, Emma, tended a growing family and a small farm. They had a large garden, orchards, and livestock. Dad remembered milking “Elsie” each morning before walking to school. He was the second oldest of six siblings; Harry, Randy, Virginia, Carolyn, and Tommy, and was the last survivor.
His courtship of Mary, a childhood friend of the family, began while he was home on leave from the service. They married when she was only 18 years old, as she insisted on being 18, and out of school. They were together for the rest of their lives. Mary passed away in 2015.
Wayne finished high school in 1939. He then worked as a florist and attended George Washington University, studying business. He was unable to finish, as the WWII draft led him into military service. He was assigned to the “Dixie Division” serving in the South Pacific. He was promoted to Warrant Officer and assigned to the “occupation army” in Korea after the war ended. Due to his business skills, including shorthand and typing, his war time work (luckily) mostly involved administration in Headquarters tents. When embarking to the South Pacific, his unit travelled the Panama Canal. While crossing the vast Pacific, his ship, (he referred to it as a converted rusty banana boat) the Cape Canso, broke down. Radio silence was obeyed due to patrolling Japanese submarines. Finally, after several days adrift, they sighted a ship on the horizon and took a chance to signal it. Luckily, it was Australian and they were rescued. He liked to say that although assigned a carbine, he never fired it at anyone in anger. After the war he worked as a civilian for the DOD in the Pentagon (Army Materiel Command), retiring in 1973. He then sold real estate for Long and Foster for several years, and then retired fully to Myrtle Beach, SC. He was an avid follower of the news and current events and called himself a “Roosevelt Democrat”. They returned to NoVa in 2002, and were very involved with family, especially enjoying their grandchildren. Mom and Dad enjoyed traveling, square dancing, golf and talking to people. He was known as a friendly, talkative man, with a good sense of humor all the way to the end.
Dad watched Northern Virginia grow into today’s metropolis. They owned a few older homes which were rented to various colorful tenants over the years. He was always tolerant and kind, sometimes to his financial detriment, but he helped many people by letting them stay at low rents over the years.
Wayne and Mary were skilled and beautiful dancers. They could square and round dance at the highest levels, belonged to several clubs, and enjoyed traveling to square dance conventions.
They traveled extensively after retirement. Destinations included Australia, Europe, Egypt, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, as well as frequent visits to Washington state to visit sons. He bragged he had visited every state. In 1963, with 4 young sons, they embarked on an epic cross country camping trip in a 1958 Chevy station wagon. Memories are rich from this and many other trips.
Dad was a solid presence in our home, always working and supplying the steady foundation that allowed the family to flourish. He insisted on thrift, and “encouraged” his sons to take on large scale Washington Post paper routes. He oversaw a two acre “farmette”, where the sons toiled with Dad and Mom in the summer season. That roadside stand, on Van Dorn Street near Edison High School, a space now occupied by town houses, provided sales of delicious fresh produce to the community, as well as college savings.
His greatest pride was family; particularly his 4 sons, Tom, John, Carl and Ken, his 5 grandchildren, Kim, Melissa, Rob, Kirby and Lindsay, and their children, Christopher, Stephanie, Joe, Diane, Coleman, Benjamin and Adeline. Dad loved to be with family and enjoyed hosting many events with Mom over the years.
Mom and Dad retired to Westminster at Lake Ridge in 2005. There they enjoyed a satisfying life of community and friendships. We would like to thank the caring staff at Westminster for looking after dad, particularly in his last months.
He is survived by three sons; John, of Springfield, Carl, of Seattle, WA, and Ken, of Twisp WA, 4 daughter in laws (Diane, Beverly, Jean and Teri), 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, and an assortment of nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at Demaine’s in Fairfax, 10565 Main St., on Tuesday, June 26 from 5 to 8 PM. Funeral service will be at the same location on Wednesday, June 27, at 11AM. Interment will follow at Mount Comfort Cemetery, next to Mom.
He was a humble man, generous and kind, loved by friends and family. A life well-lived.
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