Beverly Mae Bracken

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, Beverly Bracken, on August 15, 2024, at the age of 91.

Beverly Mae McKewen was born on May 9, 1933, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to John and Adelaide McKewen. She attended Walnut Hills High School and later graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Her love for literature led to further studies, and she earned a Master of Arts in English literature from the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Beverly was a woman of many talents and passions. As a lifelong learner, she celebrated her adventurous spirit by raising and showing quarter horses, earning her pilot's license, whitewater rafting, becoming a realtor, and helping people put their dreams to paper by crafting business plans. She positively impacted the lives of many young people, teaching English at Mount Horeb High School in Wisconsin and Blanchester High School in Ohio. Her vocabulary tests were notoriously challenging, and she developed many young writers in her role as advisor for the student yearbook. She also served as Director of Southwestern College of Business in Middletown, Ohio. Later in life, she volunteered to teach English to multilingual learners. 

Beverly was a voracious reader and enjoyed travel, music, theater, and playing Bridge. She made lasting friends everywhere she lived – Cincinnati, OH; Ft. Knox, KY; Columbus, OH; Columbia, MO; Blacksburg, VA; Mt. Horeb, WI; Blanchester, OH; Middletown, OH; Tampa, FL; Cincinnati (again); and, finally, Madison, WI. 

Beverly was known for her warm smile, her ability to just listen, and her unwavering support and encouragement for others. As a devoted mother, she raised her daughters, Valerie Sue Thrush (Christopher Goodrich) and Lisa Thrush, with kindness, patience, and an abundance of love. Her legacy lives on through her daughters, grandchildren (Elena Alfaro, Janae Goodrich, Sage Siverhus (Amanda), and Cori Siverhus), great-grandsons (Lucas and Wesley Siverhus), and many nieces and nephews.

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Jack, and her husbands Randolph Thrush, Charles Turner and William Bracken. She leaves behind a host of loving relatives, friends, and students who will remember her as a woman of grace, sweetness, and encouragement.

The family would like to express their immense gratitude to the wonderful staffs of Brookdale Century Avenue, Brookdale Sun Prairie, and Agrace for the compassionate and gentle care that Beverly received.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Beverly's name to a literacy nonprofit, Room to Read at www.roomtoread.org, honoring her joy of reading and teaching.

Please share your memories of Beverly by posting in her Guestbook.

Cress Funeral Services

5801 Highway 51, McFarland

(608) 838-0655