Beverly Ann (Long) Bennett

Beverly Ann (Long) Bennett of Battle Creek, MI



Bev, age 87, died unexpectedly Saturday morning, October 10, 2015 at the Bronson Battle Creek Hospital.


Bev, the daughter of Farwell A. and E. Gladys (Tallman) Long, was born in Flint, MI on December 24, 1927; attended schools in the Flint area; her family moved to the Battle Creek area in February of 1943 because of her father's Civil Service requirement at Kellogg Air Field during World War II and she graduated from Lakeview High School in 1945. After a venture to California, Bev returned here and was employed at the Battle Creek Osteopathic Hospital as a Receptionist. Following her marriage to Ernie Bennett and the children were all in school, she was employed as a Secretary for the Camp Fire Girls and retired in 1983 as the Reimbursement and Purchasing Officer for the Calhoun County Mental Health Department. During their retirement, they enjoyed the Traverse City area and Florida and traveling in their motor home to Northern Michigan , camping and sight-seeing. Bev also volunteered at Harper Creek Schools and was a Camp Fire Leader for 11 years including East District Chairperson, Secretary and a Board Member.


Bev was united in marriage to Ernest I. Bennett, Jr. at Lakeview Baptist Church of Battle Creek on June 12, 1949 and he sadly preceded her in death on September 27, 2006 after 57 years of marriage. Surviving are her two daughters, Sue Ann Lucas of Battle Creek and Terri (Mike) Jones of Marshall, MI; her son, Richard I. "Rick" (Zina) Bennett of Battle Creek; six precious grandchildren; three adorable great grandchildren; her sister, Bonnie (Donald) Giles of Estancia, NM; two brothers, Arthur Long of Katy, TX and Robert (Joyce) Long of Fine Lake, MI and numerous nieces and nephews. Bev was also preceded in death by her parents; her son, Kenneth E. Bennett on March 4, 2006; a grandson, Scott Collins; two sisters, Shirley Johnson and Janet Tichoner; her brother, Jimm Long and his wife, Gerry and Shirley's two sons, Budd Johnson and George Johnson , who was Killed In Action during the Vietnam War.


The Funeral Service to celebrate Bev's life will be held on Thursday, October 15th at 2:00 p.m. in the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Battle Creek, with Pastor Bob Heine, officiating. Interment will follow in Hicks Cemetery, Pennfield Township of Calhoun County, MI. Bev's family will greet friends on Wednesday, October 14th from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in Bev's honor may be directed to the American Cancer Society, 1400 West Milham Road, Portage, MI 49024.