Beverly Beranek Obituary

Jacksonville, TX - Beverly Jean McKnight Beranek, 91, passed away on September 23, 2024. She was born on July 26, 1933, on her family's farm in Turney, TX and was the only child of Rayburn E. McKnight and Elizabeth Clyne Smith McKnight.

She was descended from pioneer Cherokee families. The McKnight family settled in Dialville in 1848 and the Smith family near Rusk in 1853, both later moving to the Turney area near Jacksonville. Beverly graduated in 1950 from Port Neches High School, attended Lamar University and graduated from U.T. Permian Basin in Odessa. She married Dr. Floyd "Bill" Beranek in Port Neches on December 21, 1951. Following her husband's graduation from Baylor University College of Dentistry, they moved to Odessa. They lived there until his retirement and then moved to Jacksonville, TX in 2002.

Beverly was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord for many years, the Junior League of Odessa, Odessa Symphony Guild, Odessa Symphony Association, Odessa Civic Concert Association, Odessa Country Club Women's Association, Odessa Book Club and the 20th Century Study Club. In Jacksonville, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Hyperion Study Club and Secretary Treasurer of the Turney School Reunion Association.

She worked in field of accounting for a number of years and for the U.S. Treasury Department for 10 years until her retirement in 1997.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Floyd Beranek and son, Floyd Scott Beranek.

Left to cherish Beverly's memory are her children, Kathleen Beranek, Dan Rayburn Beranek and Dawn Beranek Bauer and husband Bart; and grandchildren Brayden, Brianna, Brantley Bauer.

A graveside service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Jarratt Cemetery. Pastor Patrick Evans will officiate.

Visitation will begin on Friday, September 27th and the family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.

Rather than customary condolences, memorial donations may be made to Heritage Hospice, 5070 Kinsey Dr., Tyler, TX 75703.