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Kelly Joan Leverett Bishop – Great Grandaughter of Ed and Minnie Beaver

I am the oldest of three children of Daisy Hard Beaver Leverett and Pobert Lee Leverett. I was born in Lubbock, Texas March 11, 1941. We lived in Amarillo while my father was in the Marines during ”TII, then when he was discharged we moved to Manteno, Illinois. I grew up in Manteno, and from my earliest childhood my consuming interest was music. In 1959 I graduated from high school as Valedictorian of my class, and received a scholarship to the University of Illinois School of Music, where I majored in voice and mi nored in piano. After one year I had to drop out and work for a year, but I attended night school and picked up_ one semester’s credits.

When I returned to the U. of I. in September, 1961, I attended a welcome party for college students at the Lincoln Avenue Church of Christ where I had attended be fore. At this party I met Bob Bishop, a graduate student in Veterinary Medicine. After a short courtship, we became en gaged on Thanksgiving Day, and were married February 3, 1962. Bob received his D.V.M. degree in June, 1963, and we moved to Pennsylvania.

At my husband’s urging, I once again enrolled in college, but soon after the semester began, I learned I was pregnant. I went on to school, including summer school, until the middle of July. Our son, Danie Mark, was born August 25, 1964 and three weeks later I was back in college. A lovely lady who was a member of the Huntingdon Church of Christ where we were members, became Dan’s second mother and my constant encourage ment. In June 1966, six years after I started, and seven and a half months pregnant with our second child, I was graduated cum laude with a B.A. degree in music. Our daugnter, Devon Lee, made her appearance August 16, 1966.

In 1967 we moved to our present home–the farm where Bob grew up. I taught school’while he established his practice, and his wonderful mother cared for our children. Like all young families, we had our share of problems, but the most serious was the health of our son. Dan was born with a ser ious congenital heart defect that required open heart surgery at age seven. It is still a source of concern to us, but we thank God for the wonders of medical science that saved his life.

We have had many varied interests through the years, but for the last four years our lives have centered around the Music Box Dinner Playhouse, a dinner theatre that we own. I am general’.manager and Music Director. w’e present 7-8 major musical productions a year, plus two children’s plays. It is an unbelievably busy schedule.

Our son, Dan, is 20 years old and a Junior at Penn State. Devon Lee, our daughter, is 18 and a freshman in Business College. Aside from membership in the Harding Church of Christ, and Bob’s Rotary Club activities, we don’t have much time to devote to outside interests. We do own a 35 foot Allegro Motorhome and ’’escape” in it whenever we can.

Well, I guess these are the high points of the life of Kelly Leverett Bishop. I have always been interested in family ties, perhaps because we were too distant from all of our family to really know any of you. We will be looking forward to the book.

Affectionately,

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