Beverly M. Lemperly, 93, of Vero Beach, passed away on July 1, 2014.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara; son, Robert; son-in-law, Frederic; granddaughter, Eva; brother, Wayne; and Jack, Hope, Rachael, Jacob, and Lizzie Andrews, and Karen and Don Ziegler.
Born in 1920 in New Cumberland, W.Va., Lemperly grew up with five siblings on a farm where one of the first oil wells in the United States was discovered. Her father, Charles Abrams, operated the oil rig. She attended a local one room schoolhouse through high school, and then obtained her nursing degree.
After early employment in Ohio, she moved to Chicago where she worked at the Wesley Memorial Hospital for nine years, rising to the position of Head Nurse. While living in Chicago, Ill., she met and married Charles L. Lemperly. After their marriage in 1950, they moved to Flossmoor, where they raised their family.
Lemperly retired from nursing, but continued to use her skills while volunteering at the Baby Station run by the Infant Welfare League of Chicago. In 1978, Mr. and Mrs. Lemperly discovered Vero Beach, initially on a seasonal basis. They found a new home and enjoyed a wonderful new life here. After a few years, they moved to Seagrove on the ocean, and then, after Charles died, Mrs. Lemperly moved to Oak Harbor.
Lemperly loved her many friends at Oak Harbor and in Vero Beach, and enjoyed her beautiful home. She was active in Vero Beach. She was an enthusiastic member of the Riomar Yacht and Tennis Club, Christi’s Health Club, the Vero Beach Country Club, and most recently, the Oak Harbor Club. She also enjoyed accumulating master points at the Vero Beach Bridge Center.
A celebration of the life of Bertha Lemperly and memorial will be held at the Oak Harbor Clubhouse on Wednesday, Aug. 20, starting at 11:30 a.m. All friends are welcome. Please R.S.V.P. to the Oak Harbor Concierge.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bertha Lemperly may be made to The Hibiscus Children’s Center in Vero Beach. Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach. An online guest book is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.