Beverly Norman (Reeder) Weishar

Beverly Weishar, 94, of Lee’s Summit MO, passed away peacefully on July 22. Beverly was the beloved wife of Jim Weishar, and a proud stepmother to seven children. Born October 13, 1931, her life’s highlights were her parents, George and Helen Reeder, proprietors of Reeder Pharmacy in Kansas City, Kansas, and her 28-year marriage to Jim, who passed away in 2006. Until her last minutes, Jim and their family were daily reminders of a love and devotion she cherished. Beverly was the only child of George and Helen.

A lifelong resident of the Kansas City area, she grew up in Kansas City, Kansas and earned her B.A. in Social Sciences from the University of Kansas City (now UMKC). Early in her career, Beverly was an Account Executive of Jim McQueeny Associates and a partner of Fenn-Gibson Public Relations. In 1964 she Founded Beverly Norman Public Relations (BNPR) and maintained this well-respected PR consulting firm for over 46 years in Kansas City MO, located on Madison Avenue on the Country Club Plaza. BNPR was the first woman-owned and longest-lasting public relations firm in Kansas City. At BNPR she represented a diverse group of clients including non-profit associations, commercial and residential developers, and many other special interest groups. Under her direction, BNPR won two Prism Awards from the Public Relations Society of America for outstanding media relations for her work with United Telecommunications and the RLDS Church. In 1985, she was honored by her peers as the Public Relations Professional of the year, a distinguished award presented by the Kansas City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, an organization she was actively involved in as an accredited member, both locally and nationally. She served as a National Officer of the Public Relations Society of America and was President of the Kansas City and Midwest Chapters. Her firm, BNPR, was also the Kansas City affiliate of Manning, Selvage & Lee, a worldwide Public Relations firm.

Beverly loved the Kansas City community and believed in active public service to many organizations in the community. She served on many boards including chairman of the board for the Safety & Health Council of Western Missouri and Kansas, as well as President of Ozanam Home. She was on the board for many other organizations including Independence Community Foundation, Independence Regional Health Center and, for over 25 years, the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, where she represented a large number of companies. She was President of Gamma Alpha Chi and American Women in Television. She was a frequent speaker and lecturer at colleges and universities, Rotary Clubs, the National Association of Women Business Owners, and local area Chambers of Commerce. Beverly was on the Advisory Board of the Mass Communications department at Central Missouri State University (now University of Central Missouri). She narrated frequent radio shows for the Restaurant Association and the Country Club Plaza Association and she was an active parishioner and volunteer at St. Mark Catholic Church in Independence, MO.

Beverly married Jim in 1978 and frequently stated that her 28 years with Jim were the happiest years of her life. She loved her seven stepchildren and particularly enjoyed the growth of their family into twenty much loved grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Beverly is survived by her stepchildren, their spouses and grandchildren; Doyle and Joanne Weishar, Paul and Alexandra, Clifton, VA; Greg and Hollis Weishar, James and Robert, Leawood, KS; Kathie and Rick Dalzell, Eric, Katie, Sara and Maggie, Medina, WA; Kevin and Judy Weishar, Michael and Doyle, Clearmont, MO; Ellen and David Cousins, Bradley, Taylor, Greg and Charlie, Minnetonka, MN; Anne Cotton, Laura and Jeffrey, Columbia, MO; Teresa and Jakob Nilsson, Hannah, Alexander, Emma and Isabella, Blue Springs, MO and her great-grandchildren.

In addition to being a pioneering business woman, Beverly also enjoyed many things throughout her life including spending time at the family cabin in Estes Park, CO, travelling throughout the world, watching wildlife, playing golf, fishing and gardening. She leaves a lasting impact on her family, friends and community.

A visitation will be held Thursday, July 30 at Speaks Suburban Chapel 18020 East 39th Street, Independence, MO from 5:30pm-7:30pm. Funeral Mass will be held Friday, July 31 at 11:00 am at St. Mark Catholic Church, 3736 Lee’s Summit Road, Independence, MO followed by interment at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 7601 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Saint Lukes Foundation or the Saint Joseph Table at Saint Mark Catholic Church.