Beverley Jean Zerko

Our precious mother, Beverley Jean Zerko, 79, of Orange, peacefully passed from this life to eternal life, taking her last unlabored breath at 5:40 p.m., on June 23, 2021, surrounded by most of her loved ones and her eternal partner holding her hand.

Services are entrusted to Claybar Funeral Home with visitation to be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, June 28, 2021, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Brother Derry Dunn. Burial will immediately follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens on Highway 87 in Orange.

Beverley was born on March 5, 1942 in San Antonio, Texas to Nathaniel W. Hallford, Jr. “Bill” and Louise (Partin) Whatman. She graduated from San Antonio’s Harlandale High School in 1960 where she met many life long friends. She married her loving husband, John David Zerko for time and all eternity on July 22, 1975 in the Salt Lake City, UT Temple. After which they made their home in Orange, Texas for the past 46 years. They attended church at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Our mother had 5 girls (poor Dad) and taught each of us how to love one another, be kind, always be of service to others, as well as just everyday life lessons. She instilled good values and morals in each of us, but we also knew what a wooden spoon felt like. Beverley was generous to a fault, but never let it stop her from having a heart of gold. She took great joy from decorating and taking care of her home. She excelled in everything she put her hands on. She was a top seller of Avon and Tupperware. She was voted as Orange County Woman of The Year. She served on PTA boards, helped open and volunteered at the Orange Woman’s Prenatal Clinic. She was always of service to someone else whether it was a church function or decorating for a Christmas party. She loved cooking and owned for several decades with her best friend, Susan Kole a catering company they named “Something Extra Catering”. They always wanted to give their customers a little something extra at each event. Never wanting to run out of food at an event, they always made extra and we got to enjoy the leftovers for days to follow. For almost two years, we woke up every morning to the bread machine turning dough or the wheat machine grinding wheat. She would make fresh homemade bread and cinnamon rolls to sell to help pay for one of her daughters to go on a mission to Chicago. She had the most beautiful handwriting. She was the best mother and grandmother her family could’ve asked for. When her last two girls were still at home a surgery left her unable to keep anything down but Cheetos and Welch’s grape soda! We would tease her because her fingers were actually stained orange from the Cheetos, no matter how many times she washed them. Her and her beloved husband served their retirement years volunteering every Saturday to work in the Houston, Texas Temple. They would leave early Saturday morning and pick up around 4-6 extra ladies in Vidor. When done volunteering, they would load everyone back up, stop for dinner, then drive back home arriving sometimes as late as 9 p.m. in Orange. They did this for 10 years until they were unable to make the trip to Houston anymore.

An injury had our mother in bed for the last two years, but we want to express our gratitude to our sister, Mandi for stepping up and taking full time care of Mom and Dad. We know it hasn’t been easy, but you took such amazing care of Mom. Also, a special thank you to Chuck and Tiffany for helping with mom also. You all have done such a beautiful service and we know that Mom is forever grateful.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill Hallford, Jr. and Louise Whatman; brother, Charles Ray Hallford; twin brothers at birth, Ronald and Donald Hallford; and sister-in-law, Joyce Hallford.

She is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, John David Zerko; daughters, Wendy Buhler and husband RJ of Fort Worth, Tara Torres and husband Kyle of Fort Worth, Kippi Fanning of Arizona, Mandi Zerko and husband Chuck of Orange and Leigh Anne Zerko and spouse Dawn of Galveston; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sister, Sandy Rivette and husband Doug of San Antonio; and many nieces, nephews and loving friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Joey Perkins, Josh Perkins, Tim Gandy, Nathan Zerko, Nicholas Zerko, Chuck Ozan, Brad Ozan, Kyle Torres, and RJ Buhler. Honorary pallbearers are Doug Rivette, Mark Guidry, Jr., Matt Guidry and Mitchell Hughes.

A special thank you to Miranda Pence-Ruffin, who not only graciously took care of our Mom the past two years, but someone who loved her like her own. We are forever thankful. Also thank you to Texas Total Care Hospice nurses Linda Hanauer, Sharon Lowe, Kaylie White, and mom’s precious aide, Altovise Nixon.