Elizabeth O'Shea Beven

Elizabeth was born January 2, 1935, to Elizabeth Chotard O'Shea and William Doyle O'Shea in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She attended St. Anne's Catholic School in Fort Smith and Tulsa University, graduating Cum Laude in 1955.

 She became a medical technologist in the Charity Hospital program. After graduation, she worked in the serology and histopathology laboratories there. She enjoyed living in the French Quarter with her first roommates who became friends for life, Mary Frances Perkins, Dilly Otto, and Sally Hough.

In 1958, she met a red-headed resident named Terry Beven. He asked her for a date and she turned him down because she was going to Europe for six weeks with two sorority sisters from Tulsa.  When she returned, they went to Charlie's Steak House and discovered their mutual interests in the arts and sports.  In September 1960, they married in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  In marriage, Liz pursued a master's from Tulane, but took time off to become a mother.  In 1962, Terry was called up for service in the U.S. Navy, serving at the U.S.N.H. in Jacksonville, Florida.  They lived on the base where their second son was born in 1964.

 
 Completing Navy service in 1964, they then moved to Baton Rouge to enter the practice of medicine and lived there the rest of their lives. In early 1966 there was a third addition, a girl.  Liz then embarked on new adventures of raising kids and working as a volunteer in a number of organizations. These included St. Aloysius Church ministries, La Tertulia study and social group, as a docent at the L.S.U. Burden Plantation, and her favorite, the L.S.U. book barn and annual sale.  She also worked in the East Baton Rouge Medical Alliance, serving as president of the group and later serving in the state organization. She was very pleased to be asked to serve on the Cabinet of the Forever L.S.U Fund raising activity, a group that made great contributions to the success of the undertaking. In middle age, Liz completed her master's degree in pastoral studies from Loyola of the South.

 Liz loved attending medical meetings with Terry.  The two of them took many opportunities to travel in North America, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii and various venues in Europe.  She also enjoyed river and ocean cruises.

 Her health declined in 2017, and they moved to St. James Place to continue their lives.  She enjoyed the entertainment and educational opportunities there, particularly the bible study group and OLLI at L.S.U. lectures.

 Liz was dedicated to her religion, and adored her husband, children and grandchildren.   She was a voracious reader all of her life and kept a book at hand even in her last days of life.  Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, and her sister, Mary O'Shea Judd, and daughter-in-law Margie Kieper.  She is survived by her children John Lansing Beven, PhD of Miami,  Florida, William (Bill) O'Shea Beven
 and wife (Marie Louise Beven) of Danville California, and Evelyn (Lyn) Beven Atkins (Victor) of New Orleans; and grandchildren, Eileen Beven, Anthony Beven and Christopher Beven of Danville (CA), and John Atkins, Jill Atkins, Beth Atkins and Kate Atkins of New Orleans and nieces Julie Liesenfelt (Kevin), Susan Judd and Lisa Judd. Special thanks to the dedicated staff at S.J.P., especially her caring companion Jacquelyn Hayes for her marvelous support and care.

A funeral mass will take place at 11:00 am Monday May 6th, 2024, at St. Aloysius Church with burial at Resthaven Gardens of Memory afterward.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to St. Aloysius Church, or L.S.U. Libraries would be appreciated.