Beverly Latimer Huckaby

Beverly Latimer Huckaby, 82, passed away on December 10, 2020 at Lakeview Village in Lenexa KS Born May 8, 1938, in Norwich, Kansas to Raymond and Ione Latimer, she recalled being a happy child that enjoyed caring for the family’s farm animals, a home filled with music, and playing schoolhouse with friends. She graduated from Osage City High School in 1956, and attended Emporia State Teachers College as a flute and music education major. In 1958, she married Ronald Gene Huckaby, the younger brother of her high school music teacher. They began married life 8,000 miles from home, in Berlin Germany, when Cold War tensions were among the highest. She taught music in the first German-American school established after World War II, and witnessed the construction of the Berlin Wall. In Fairbanks AK she tutored children and worked for the Army Corp of Engineers during the Great Alaskan Earthquake of 64. She and Ron returned to the lower 48 where their daughter and son were born in San Angelo TX. Subsequent moves with the Air Force included Hof, Germany, Monterey CA, and Fort Meade MD. After Ron’s retirement, the family settled in Warrensburg MO where Beverly served as Secretary to the UCM Music Department from 1973-77. In her 40s, she returned to college to become the teacher she always wanted to be. At KU, she served in the Pi Lambda Theta Honorary Education Society and graduated in 1981. She taught first and second grades in Shawnee Mission, at Corinth and Mill Creek Elementary schools. Her students remember her as being funny, always knowing when they needed a hug, and for producing plays where she accompanied them on piano. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Professional Teacher Society and retired in 1998. Bev was a life-long member of the Methodist Church and sang for decades in the choir at Asbury Methodist Church. She never met a stranger, and had a beaming, bubbly personality. She enjoyed traveling and spent many summers abroad in Europe. After Ron passed in 2002, she moved to Lakeview Village retirement community. She continued to swim, sing in multiple choirs, needlepoint, play flute, and teach and play piano. She loved to decorate for the holidays, entertain, and organize get-togethers with friends, yet was content to sit on the porch, read a book, and watch the world go by with a cup of tea. She passed peacefully with her children by her side, at the exact time school is dismissed every day. A teacher to the end. She was reunited with many loved ones that went before her, including her parents, her beloved husband Ron, infant son Ronald Huckaby Jr, and brother David Latimer. She will be deeply missed by many dear friends and family including daughter Kim (Dale) Robinson, grandson Ian Robinson, son Kevin Huckaby, brother William (Karen) Latimer, and much-loved cousins, nieces and nephews. A private interment will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery in Topeka KS, with a Celebration of Life to take place when gathering restrictions have lifted. The family is eternally grateful to Lakeview Village staff for their care and compassion in her final years. Memorial donations can be made in her name to the Lakeview Village Foundation, 9100 Park St, Lenexa KS 66215