Beverly Jean Witman

Services for Beverly Jean Witman are 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 15, 2026, at Criswell Funeral Home Chapel; Rev. Richard Hood will officiate.  Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Beverly Jean Witman, born September 17, 1946, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2026 after a long battle with small cell lung cancer.

At barely five feet tall, Beverly was proof that presence has nothing to do with size. She was spirited, strong-willed, endlessly determined, and armed with a sense of humor sharp enough to keep everyone on their toes.

She raised her children as a single mother, sometimes working as many as three jobs to makes ends meet. Hard work was simply part of who she was and she continued to work well into her seventies, wearing countless hats over the years – secretary, retail sales, restaurant management, tax preparer, and finally caregiver.

In 1988, she married Don Witman and together they shared adventures on the road in their RV, making memories she talked about for years afterward. Losing Don to congestive heart failure in 2001 was one of the great heartbreaks of her life. His service as a disabled American veteran was something they both carried with immense pride.

Beverly is survived by her daughters, Kelley (Ray) Walker and Tammy Glatzer; her grandchildren, River West (partner Sephanie Menotti), Ann (Ryan) Trisel, Dannin Tauber, and Leandra Cearly (fiancé Jaiden Shaheen); and her great-grandchildren, Alaura, Lily, and Hannah Trisel. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lois and Aubrey Baker, and her two brothers, Ronnie and Jim Baker.

She found joy in simple things: the color pink, lemon meringue pie, Janet Evanovich novels, tiny living spaces, spontaneous road trips with no destination beyond “someplace good,” and any chance to spend time with family. In her later years, Beverly’s faith in God became a steady source of comfort, and she found peace and reassurance in the pages of her Bible.

Throughout her long illness, she formed lasting bonds with fellow senior living residents, care staff, and her hospice team, often encouraging and mentoring others who were struggling themselves. Time and again, the people around her said the same things – she was sweet, funny, deeply loved, and unforgettable.

Beverly was a woman of strong opinions and very human imperfections. She taught her family resilience, independence, humor in hard moments, and the importance of speaking honestly and loving fiercely. Her family will treasure those lessons and her spirit long after she’s gone.