The force of nature that was Beverley Bills burst into the world in March of 1930. An only child born of two only children, she was the center of attention for her family. Raised in the depression, she grew up as a self-described military brat, attending school in North Carolina, Virginia, Illinois, Texas, California, and Washington State.

Demonstrating an early talent for music and art, she became very accomplished in both violin performance and painting. When she arrived at the University of Washington in Seattle, finally deciding to be a Fine Arts major, her father called with an offer to move the family to China for his new post.

Foregoing college for the adventure of travel, she moved to Asia for several years, eventually being dramatically evacuated from Nanjing (Mao Tse Tung had surrounded the city) to Shanghai. From there, the family took a new post in Yokahama, Japan. She worked as a Service Club Hostess and then at the huge seven floor Yokahama Post Exchange, in charge of all window displays, signs and interior decoration. While in Japan, she met and married Korean war veteran Lt. Emil Lind, the father of her three children (Kathy Blanchard, Mike Lind and Sue Raney).

After Japan, they were stationed in California and then Germany, so off she went, learning German, now with three children in tow. Eventually, they settled in St. Louis, Missouri for 12 years. Bev supervised the building of the family home, not only painting every room but painting all the artwork, which was in constant rotation. She entered art fairs, taught lessons, and was commissioned for portraits. She didn't play as much violin but tried hard (without success) to teach her children to play. Once all the kids were in school, she turned to genealogy.

Researching the family tree fascinated her, and she traveled when she could to photograph gravestones and dig into local libraries for historical family information. She eventually proved (with a mountain of paperwork) the family lineage back to John Alden and Priscilla Mullen from the Mayflower. She was proud to be accepted as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Mayflower Society and the Associated Daughters of Early American Witches. She's held many leadership positions in these organizations, not only assisting fellow genealogists, but speaking publicly many times a year about chapter revitalization, the need for computer databases and her favorite subject, George Washington. She flourished in DAR, eventually becoming one of only 13 Vice President Generals, a lifetime appointment of national honor.

In 1971, she and Emil divorced, and she moved to Tacoma, Washington to live with her parents. Within a few years she met widower and retired Air Force Major Stan Bills, and was married to him for 45 years until his death in 2018. She entertained, volunteered, played bridge and cared for her parents, who eventually moved in next door.

Although Alzheimer's robbed her of short-term memory, she could always "drop the needle" and recount her travel escapades, background on her artwork and many happy family memories. She is survived by her children: Kathy Blanchard, Mike Lind, Sue Raney, Cathy Perotti and David Bills.

Grandchildren: Jessica Singleton, Megan Tellez, Jeff Lind, Jenny Lind, Justin Lind, Sarah Cecchetti, Jennifer Davies, Dan Perotti, Trina Perotti and Dustin Bills. Great grands – fifteen and counting!

A beautiful life deserves to be beautifully remembered. A Celebration of Life will be held at New Tacoma Cemetery Chambers Creek Chapel on Saturday, April 1 at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, she would have appreciated donations to the Daughters of the American Revolution or Northwest Harvest Food Bank.