Beverley Rodgers

Beverley J. (Smith) Rodgers, a resident of Rio Rancho, NM, passed away April 23, 2015. Born in August of 1934 in the middle of the 'dust bowl' toward the end of the 'Great Depression', Beverley descended from Western Frontier stock that homesteaded in Northern NM at the turn of the century. Shortly the young family relocated to the fertile South Valley in Albuquerque where she grew up, remembering WWII beginning while in the 1st grade at Old Armijo school at 'Dead Man's Curve': attending the new Armijo school, Ernie Pyle Jr. High & riding the Isleta bus to attend the old Albuquerque High School at Broadway and Central; graduating in 1952. Relatives & friends recall how Beverley liked school, proudly made good marks, relished the arts, was very active in extra curricular activities, studied the piano, played clarinet in the concert & marching band, sang in school and church choir, danced in Fiddling Feet Square Dance club, performed in the school drama club, won ribbons and awards on visual presentation and 4-H projects at the State Fair. Beverley was very involved in the Westminster Presbyterian church youth group where she attended the National Conference in Grinnell, Iowa and camped in the Sandia Mountains. While attending high school, Beverley worked as a clerk at Lerner clothing store. Later she operated the old Burroughs bookkeeping machine at the 1st National Bank at 3rd and Central. Beverley aptly continued her pursuit of happiness as a 'Fine Arts' major at UNM until 1954 when she stopped to marry her high school sweetheart, Bob Rodgers. Beverley lived in the NE heights dazzled by the role of the 50's little women of the house and befitting her innovative and creative inclinations. She nourished and nurtured 5 children. In the mid 60's Beverley conducted a workshop concerning children with reading problems for the Montezuma Grade School PTA. This work grew to involve children with ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia and Autism, and has grown to an international level. On January 8, 1973, Beverley's forth child, Timothy lost a battle with Leukemia. With help from the monks at the Benedictine Monastery in Pecos, NM, Beverley rallied from a prolonged grief and returned to her interest in painting and resumed classes at UNM. After a divorce in 1979, she stepped up to full time status adding studies in Psychology and the new field of Art Therapy. In 1981 after completing a Bachelor in fine Arts, Beverley and her youngest daughter Teresa left for college on opposite US coasts. The early 80's found Harvard Square to be a hotbed for strong frontier women on the cutting edge of the women's movement and new age concepts; a great time to have been accepted into the new Expressive Therapies program at Lesley Graduate School, College for Arts and Human Development. Apparently Beverley had come full circle meeting with inherited ancestral traits; the pioneering frontier woman's spirit. Exercising proficiency in integrating all the art modalities, she earned a Masters Degree in Expressive Arts Therapy and became Board Certified. She worked in NM, MA, CA and HI practicing in educational, rehabilitation and mental health facilities. Beverley studied with Master Artists and her artwork has been shown in shows and galleries. She was active in local, professional and international organizations such a Sand Play, Friends of Jung, and Mandala Therapy. Beverley researched and developed the family genealogy for her family. She was an avid reader and traveler. She leaves 4 children: Gregory Rodgers and his wife Melinda; Robyn Rodgers; Aaron Rodgers and his wife Kathy; and Teresa Blakemore and her husband Rick. In addition, she is survived by 6 grandchildren: Nicole Baron and her husband David; Steven Rodgers and his wife Jennifer, Robert T Rodgers; Ashley Morrell and her husband Nathan; Monica Rodgers; and Clarke Surrey. Beverley also leaves 7 great grandchildren: Raquel, Sophie, Joshua, Brielle, Rory, Adelaide, and Orion. She is also survived by her sister, Gloria Sisk and her husband Bill. A celebration of life will be held Thursday, April 30th at 11am, at the chapel at FRENCH - Lomas 10500 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111. 505-275-3500