Beverly Haffner

Beverly Haffner, 55, lost her battle with cancer August 7, 2011, at her home in Jacksonville, N.C., surrounded by her family. 

She was born January 30, 1956, in Bushnell, Ill., to Mary and Harlan Hummel.  She attended elementary and high school in Bushnell, moving to Walker, Minn., her senior year of high school.  She graduated from Walker High School in 1974.  From 1986 to 1988 Beverly attended Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Ill., earning her Associates in Nursing in 1988.  Beverly was an amazing, dedicated, and compassionate nurse from 1987 to 2011, working in many fields to include OB/GYN, oncology, surgery, and home health care. She also served as the director of nursing at Coulee Community Hospital for eight years.  She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Graceland University in 2008 and her Master of Health Administration in 2011 from University of Phoenix, just a few months before her death.

 Beverly was a woman of great faith. She was an active member of local churches throughout her life including Prairieland Open Bible Church in Prairie City, Ill., Foursquare Church in Omak, Faith Missionary Baptist in Okanogan, and most recently, Faith Community Church in Electric City. She believed that true faith is shown in the daily actions of each individual and she showed her love, faith in God, determination, and passion for life to everyone, every day.  Her kind and nurturing soul found its best work through caring for children.  Not only was she an exceptional mother to her birth children, but, she extended that love to her many foster children.  She and husband Wayne Haffner became foster parents for the state of Illinois from 1985 to 1987.  Beverly began fostering again on her own for the Colville Tribe from 2004 to 2010 primarily caring for drug-affected infants. Her courage and fiery spirit helped her become a true advocate for these children.  It was through the Colville foster care program that she fostered and eventually adopted her daughter Shayela.

Beverly is survived by her children: Galen Haffner of Jacksonville, Jessica Dicus of Puyallup, Wash., Blake Haffner of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Shayela Haffner of Jacksonville; her mother Mary Patricia Hummel of Ocala, Fla., as well as her siblings Connie Hummel, Greg Hummel, and Gene Hummel; numerous nieces and nephews; and four grandchildren.

 A memorial service will be held at Faith Community Church in Electric City on Saturday, June 2, 2012, at 10 a.m., with Steve Archer officiating.  Her remains were cremated by Jones Funeral Home of Jacksonville following her death August 7, 2011.