Beverly Jean Spell (nee Fiddler) of Ocala, Florida passed peacefully, with her daughters
at her side, from this life into eternity on May 21 st , 2026. She was 90 years old.
Beverly was born in Blue Island, Illinois to Leonard and Antoinette Fiddler on April 25, 1936.
She married Edgar Spell in 1953 and together they had two daughters.
After their girls were grown she and Ed moved from the Chicago area to Ocala, Florida
where they owned and operated a sandwich shop and a pizza restaurant for many
years. Later, Beverly worked as a manager in her brother’s grocery store on Ft. Myers
Beach before retiring in Ocala near her daughters and grandchildren. She stayed busy
volunteering as a greeter at her church and at “On The Go” Outreach Ministry. She was
also a dedicated and trusted volunteer at the Hospice Pharmacy.
Beverly loved cooking and baking for her family and friends and had each one’s name
on an index card in her recipe box with their favorite dessert: Peanut Butter Pie, Sour
Cream Coffee Cake, Gram’s Sweet Rolls, Poppyseed Cake, Homemade donuts, French
Silk pie or a bakery size tray of Apple slices. And her pies were always made with
homemade dough! She collected recipes and hand copied them at anyone’s request.
Although she could make far better desserts than anything store bought, her absolute
favorite food was ice cream! Though she wasn’t supposed to eat it she always said,
“when I get close to dying, just give me ice cream!” (We did.)
When Beverly wasn’t cooking up something special for someone, she could spend the
entire day working in her yard. She enjoyed nurturing her garden and the physical
exercise it demanded. She wasn’t afraid to get dirty and appreciated her “cold drink”
and a short rest at her picnic table. If you stopped by she offered a cold drink and an
invitation to sit with her for a bit. On other days she happily made alterations to wedding
gowns and prom dresses, sewed handmade nightgowns and as gifts to her loved ones
when a family member died, she would turn a favorite shirt or blouse they had into a
keepsake pillow. Beverly loved doing for others.
Hard-working, humble, industrious, patient, resourceful, self-sufficient and self-
sacrificing, Beverly never tried to draw attention to herself. She had a servant’s heart.
And a strong one. She had more than her share of trying times, but Beverly Spell never
complained! She trusted her God to give her strength.
As a young girl Beverly attended a local Bible church where she learned that the
atoning work of Jesus gave her the privilege of being a child of God. She quietly served
Him ever since. In Ocala, she became a member of Meadowbrook Church and attended
and served there many years until her illness prevented her from going.
She is survived by her daughters: Debra (Jim) McCorry and Pamela Mata. Her
Grandchildren: Mike (Kate) McCorry, Kellie (Sean) Branch and Juleah (Isbel) Medina.
Her five great grandchildren, whom she absolutely adored: Benny, Eloise, Max, Joie
and Willa and her niece Susan (Buddy) Bradford. She was preceded in death by her
parents and her brother Robert.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, August 1 st at 11:00 a.m. at Robert’s Funeral
Home, 2739 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala with Pastor Tim Gilligan officiating.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to: Beverly’s visiting Chaplain, Frank
Scognamillo; Pastor Pam and the Care Team from Meadowbrook Church; and her
beloved CNA: Shernette, who carried the love of Jesus into our mom’s room every night
she was in Shernette’s care.
In lieu of flowers her daughters would love for you to take the people you love out for ice
cream and remember Beverly!