Beverly Shelton Erdman Henderson

Beverly Shelton Erdman Henderson, of Tucson, Arizona passed away at home on Friday, April 18, 2025, and had just celebrated her 76th birthday a few weeks prior with all of her family close by. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 3, 1949, and is preceded in death by her parents, John F. Erdman and Harriet Shelton Erdman, and her only sibling, Frank Gregory Erdman. Loving wife of 49 years, to Francis Kay Henderson Sr., who tirelessly saw personally to her care in her final years after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. She was a devoted mother survived by her children and their spouses: Marisa and Jon Thwaits, Tammy and Jared Minch, Frankie Henderson and Beth Milem, Jonathan Henderson, James Henderson and Sophie Simmons, Jesse Henderson, and Brittany Henderson, and her grandchildren: Shule, Shazer and Liberty, Sally, Sophie, Joey, Sedona, Emerson, Lexi, Johnny, Bentley, Charli, Jaime, and Ruby. Beverly would often reminisce about the idyllic childhood her parents provided for her on their 30 acres just outside of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, where they worked endlessly to fix up their farmhouse style home built in 1854. She had loved all the horses, ponies, sheep, dogs, cats, and pigs her family raised over the years and developed very tender feelings for all of God’s creatures during those early years that she nurtured her entire life with many other cats and dogs, hamsters, and even tortoises. In the winter Beverly and her brother, Greg, would skate on their pond, toboggan, and ski, and made igloos together. In the summer they rode horses and swam at Linda Lake and enjoyed eating the bounteous harvest from their mother’s extensive gardens. She learned to play piano and discovered a love for art and drawing. Beverly graduated from Quakertown High School in 1967, proud to be the captain of the school’s rifle team. She then spent two informative years and graduated from Penn Hall Preparatory School in Chambersburg, PA, where she was awarded The Fine Arts Excellence Medallion, before attending Temple University in Philadelphia. It was there, in Philadelphia, and during a time of great political unrest surrounding the Vietnam War that Beverly discovered the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and decided to be baptized and become a member; a decision that she relished throughout her life, volunteering and serving in various callings and capacities working mostly with children, the youth, and women in her congregations, and touching the lives of many with her kindness. Joining the church led her to pursue an adventurous move out west, far from the family she adored, where she would attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and graduate with a bachelor’s degree and teacher credential in 1975. It was during her college years in Utah that she met a handsome cook where she waitressed and they began their lifelong romance. They were married February 5, 1976, and affectionately sealed for eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple on February 17, 1996. In the early years of her marriage the Air Force took her and her newly enlisted husband to Tucson, Arizona, a place she had fond memories of visiting while on vacation as a child, and a place she would later return to after moving to a few more places and choose to live and raise their children. A talented artist and beloved art teacher at Carson Middle School in the Tucson Unified School District for 25 years, Mrs. Henderson inspired countless students with her passion for art and dedication to nurturing creative talent. Intrepid storyteller, she delighted many with her family newsletters and original watercolor greeting cards and gifted many others with her beautiful oil paintings. She adored her grandchildren and found every opportunity to spend quality time with them; teaching them to paint at her kitchen table, swimming with them in her pool while singing “Baby Baluga,” vacationing with them to a California beach or Disneyland, especially enjoying her many trips to Hawaii with her family and trying her best to attend every important event and concert performance. Generous in her devotion to her family and faith, quick to share her artistic talents and delicious fresh baked cookies, she leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled until we are reunited. All affected by her love are invited to join Beverly’s family in celebrating her life Friday, May 2, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1655 S Melpomene Way, Tucson, AZ 85748. Viewing at 12:00 pm and Funeral Service beginning at 1:00pm. Interment will be held privately at East Lawn Palms Mortuary & Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona.