OBITUARY
Vivian Leamer Bevis
May 19, 1937 – December 15, 2018
Vivian Leamer Bevis, 81, died peacefully on Dec. 15, 2018 at Vancouver General Hospital of heart complications, surrounded by her loving family.
Vivian Gaye Leamer was born on May 19, 1937 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby Summit. In her early years, she excelled at school, synchronized swimming, and art. Her parents, Frank and Mildred Leamer, instilled in her the importance of independence, education, hard work, gardening, camping, and hiking.
She earned a B.A. in Psychology at Duke University. On August 6, 1960, she married Richard Bevis. Their shared love of adventure and different cultures took them travelling, living, hiking, and kayaking over much of the world. They were living in Berkeley, California when their daughter, Linda, was born in 1961. After Richard obtained his doctorate, the family moved to Beirut, Lebanon in 1965. Vivian taught art at the International College and the American Community School. When they moved to Vancouver, Canada in 1970, Vivian earned a teaching certificate and an M.A. in Art Education from UBC. Adored by her students and advocating for her union, she taught humanities and art at the elementary and high school levels in Vancouver for the rest of her professional career, retiring in 1997. She also illustrated several children’s books.
Vivian loved her family, her friends, hiking, travelling and painting. She greeted people and adventure with open arms and vast curiosity. She journeyed all over the Middle East, Europe, North Africa, Mexico, South America, East and Southeast Asia. Wherever she went, she made friends and brought back images to paint. In her retirement, she loved to hike with her family and the University Women’s Hiking Group, paint with the Vancouver Art Guild, work with the West Southlands Ratepayers Association, trade books with her book club, visit family at her beloved Saranac Lake, visit friends all over the world, and visit Linda, Ed and her granddaughter Leyla, to whom she will always be “Apple”.
She is survived by her brother Richard (Barbara) and his family, her husband Richard, daughter Linda (Edward), and granddaughter, Leyla.
Vivian requested no service. Please make a donation to your favorite charity in her name. Her legacy is vitality, kindness, friendship, and love. We will all miss her.
Show Your Support
Share Obituary
share to facebook
share by email
share link
Receive Notifications
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Vivian Leamer Bevis 2018..
Source:Vancouver Memorial Services and Crematorium
Décès pour la Ville: vancouver, Province: Colombie britanique
