Irene B.
Derby KS
nominated by: Margo Corbin on 03/31/2008
My mom is a very remarkable woman. She has been a mom for 55 1/2 years. I always remember her being a giving person, always sacrificing for her family and friends. She has love and compassion deep rooted in her heart.
As a child, I remember her being protective of her children but yet willing to correct when necessary, which was often. She was always planning fun activities for us and that continues to this day; From easter egg hunts to week long camping/skiing trips for us and our friends. My children always ask if grandma is having Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc. at her house because they cherish those times when she brings us all together.
After I went to college, she started cake decorating. And continued that for 35 years. She was also interested in catering and started catering at church activities, which branched out into the community. With her cake decorating came the desire and opportunity to be a wedding coordinator. I can not begin to count the numbers of couples she helped. My mom was always coming up with less expensive ways to decorate for weddings, new formats for the ceremony, and different ideas for receptions. She even did rehearsals for the ministers performing the ceremonies. Of course, she hired my sister, myself, and friends to help with set up and clean up for all these activities. Rarely did she get paid for her expertise.
In the mid 80’s, my mom and dad started a Bible study group in their home. It is still going today. She has helped to organize activities for this group: ie, Serving meals at the rescue mission, taking meals to families that have lost love ones or are sick, putting together Christmas gifts for less fortunate families in the community. She is always planning weekend trips for the ladies in the Bible study.
My mom has planned many a vacation for us. One of the most memorable was a trip to Jamaica. She put the information together and let us all decide if we could go. We ended up having 12, 6 couples, go. Half was family, the other half were close friends of the family. We had a marvelous time. I remember raising the money for the trip helping mom with caterings and weddings. She took what money I made and created an account for my husband and I. The trip was paid for totally before we left. It was such a nice feeling to come home from a vacation not owing any money. She has planned this same trip for us 2 more times, plus multiple cruises. She loves adventure, trying new things, and is not afraid to take a chance. She plans things down to the smallest details and leaves no worries for those going with her. What a treasure she is.
After raising her children, serving others, putting together weddings for her children and some of her grandchildren, planning parties/overnights for her grandchildren, she found herself taking care of her parents. This was very difficult as parents don’t like being told what they need by their children. But mom perservered until the time of their deaths.
My mom has been the hub of our family, keeping us focused on making ourselves and our world better. She has a heart for Jesus Christ and has strived all her life to be what He wants her to be and has strongly impressed this upon her 3 children, 7 grand children, and 6 great grand children. I love her because of her dedication to her beliefs and her willingness to share it. I was the toughest of her 3 children to raise, and never once did she throw her hands up in the air and give up. She always came back more determined to make sure I was what God wanted me to be. She has helped me in the rearing of my 3 children. As foster parents, my husband and I found ourselves in tough situations. Mom was always willing to babysit when we needed a break and took our foster kids in as her own grandchildren. To this day there are 5 of those kids who still call her grandma. When I didn’t know what to do or where to turn, she was there encouraging me and lifting me up. She is a very strong woman with a very meek heart. She is a peacemaker. She gives me hope and courage that I too can continue to be all God wants me to be.
I love my mom!
Margo Corbin
My husband and I vote for Irene BEaver . She is a wonderful example of love and caring. She is unselfish and always has a positive attitude.
She is a great example as a wife, mother, grandmother and a friend.
Her faith in God is a wonderful example of what the Bible describes as a godly woman………..
Irene helped me plan my daughter’s wedding which turned out beautiful. She also helped plan and bake the cake for my Mother’s 90th birthday. I took one of Irene’s cake decorating classes. I’ve decorated several cakes since then but, I don’t have the knack that Irene has. Irene has always been an inspriation to me.
What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful woman, Every word is the truth, I should know. I have been her husband for 57 years.
Irene Beaver has always been like a mom to me. When we first started attending Central Community Church more than 20 years ago we had the chance to meet Irene and her husband Harlan. Being from out of town they took our family in and made us feel like one of their own children. Irene wa always there with a smile and a big hug for our entire family. We had many tough times including my cancer surgery. Irene was always there to bring by food or just to say hello and how are things going. When we moved away to Georgia, we always knew that there was a place we could call home in Wichita and it is in Irene Beaver’s home. I that God for her witness and her caring attitude through all the years we have known her. I still call her on the phone and say Hi Mom, What’s for dinner. The great thing is that my family is not the only one that she has treated this way down through the years. I know that many others are proud to call her Mom just like I am.
I vote for Irene Beaver. Everything her daughter Margo said about her is true and more. She has been in our family for over 50 yrs. She is a true
Christian Lady and shows how much she cares about others by doing many things.
She has helped me and given me strength and good advise. She deserves this
title.
I have known Irene for several years and believe she should be voted Wichita’s favorite mom. She is one of the most giving, never self serving people I know. Irene is a very strong Christian lady and someone I can count on to always be there to help and give advice to me. I did not know her when she was raising her children but I know both of her daughters and I can her reflected in each of them.
I love my grandma! She is a blessing from the Lord, a true servant. She is always puts others above herself. Growing up, she was always working on something when I would visit, and yet she made time for conversations with me. As I grew older, she flew down for important events (like my graduation and college violin recital) and even catered them! She is beautiful and I love her.
My vote goes for Irene Beaver. I am Marilyn her youngest daughter. Everything in the letter is so very true. Mom (Irene) is the one that has loved and prayed me. through so many life’s trials. She is my prayer warrior. There is SO MUCH I could write about her. She is sacred to me, so very, very special. She has the most tender heart. I want to say thanks for the love that was poured outfor me the care that she gave in everything she did, for forgiving me in many of life’s mishaps, protecting me from situations of possible harm.Her patience and love never end. My Mom IS THE example of a wonderful filled christian woman. I Love You Mom!
When a woman’s own family rises up and calls her a blessing (as the epitome of a woman is called in the Bible), it’s very clear she has done life right—and ALL of Irene’s family has always said this about her. Those the rest of us who have been led, taught, mentored, prayed for, and cooked for by her are in total agreement. Irene deserves the honor of being Wichita’s Favorite Mother, and as one who has wished I could have been born in her family, I’m pleased to cast my vote!
I have known Irene for many many years and she is a very special friend. She is always there to help you, listen to you or do what ever is needed. Never asking anything for herself. Irene plans many trips a year for the ladies in our Bible Study, and has done so for several years. She plans the trip, makes the arrangements, collects the money, and then gives us directions and off we go. I know my life has been blessed by her and I feel she deserves Mother of the Year.
Irene Beaver is like a “MOM” to many of us younger folk. She is always looking out for those around her and extends that care to community, caring events. She has prepared the bulk of the food and has managed the rest of us in the kitchen as we occassionaly volunteer to feed those that partake evening meals at the Union Rescue Mission.
She is the most thoughtful and caring person I’ve have seen in a long, long, time.
She gets our vote as this year’s - BEST MOM (and friend) award.
Irene is all the above and much more. Not only is she Wichita’s best MOM but someone who should be nominated for sainthood for staying married to Harlan for 57 years!
I have known Irene since she married my good guddy Harlan “Beav” Beaver. Anyone who can put up with “the Beav” for over hald a century deserves many accolades. Only kidding. Harlan and Irene have been some of Wanda and I’s dearest and truest friends for many years.
My vote is for Irene, a truly Eager Beaver.
Sincerely, Dr. Eddie Downey, Haines City, Florida
Irene bakes the best cakes! I can see that you have touched so many lives . . . a true testament of what a wonderful person you are.
Mighty Good Cake!!!
I certainly want to vote for Irene because she is my Sister-in-law but she has been more like a Sister to me. She has been the glue that helped hold our crazy family together. There never was never a doubt, even as our families grew, that we would all be together to celebrate the Holidays and our gatherings were mostly at their house. I treasure the times I got to help her with her catering business and weddings. In the 57 years I have know Irene I don’t think I’ve ever met a more upbeat, postive and pleasant person. IRENE LOVES FLOWERS AND I LOVE HER! So here is my vote, I only wish I could vote more than once. Love, Brenda
Irene is a wonderful, loveing and a very caring woman. She has been a “shinning star” in my life for over 40 years as a youth counselor at youth camp, in church to my children and to my wife and I as a person that enjoys her life with the “Beav” and thru her wonderful 3 children. My hat is off to this woman and my vote is for her as my “second mom”. God Bless Irene we love you very much.
This Lady is not just a Super Mom but a Super Person. Go Irene Go.
What can I say about Irene except that she is a wonderful friend and mother. She has taught me life lessons of patience, endurance, hard work and most of all love for her family. She has been an inspiration to me personally in the kitchen and I am honored to call her “friend”. Lots of love. Teresa
My grandma, Irene, is the most selfless person I know. She is the sweetest and lives for the joy and love of the Lord. She cherishes her family and friends and has instilled that love into her family. She is a bautiful woman and deserves much praise. For such a modest woman she has touched so many lives, whether it be through catering for someone she barely knows or making a delicious egg sandwich for her grandchildren(they are so delicious, I make them the same way now!). She emits joy and love wherever she goes! I love her and am very thankful to be apart of her legacy!