In Memory: Gareth Michael Bevard, Loved Cooking For Friends and Family

The following obituary was submitted by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory:

Gareth Michael Bevard, 64, of Roswell, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 15 of heart complications.

Gareth was born on June 25, 1950, in Sterling, Illinois. He graduated from Rock Falls High in 1969 and Jones Business College in Orlando, Florida where he received his BA. In March of 1970, he enlisted in the Navy, specializing in communications until March of 1976. While he was stationed in Pearl City Hawaii, he met his future wife Brenda Meier who was vacationing with a friend who knew his mother.

After Gareth’s discharge from the Navy, he pursued his life with Brenda and they were married in February 1977. They started their life together moving to Longwood, Florida where Gareth started his career in the finance industry with Household Finance. After the birth of their daughter Tiffany, Gareth was transferred to Fremont, California, in 1983 working for Fleet Finance. While in California, their son Dustin was born.

Gareth moved his family to Roswell when Fleet Finance transferred him in 1986. Gareth later worked many years for Citibank and finished his career with Pendergast & Associates. Family, friends, baseball, cooking and wine were a huge part of his life. To him, the best part of life was spent cooking his gourmet chief-inspired dishes for family and friends sharing his knowledge of food and wine. Of course this was true unless he was at the baseball stadium watching his beloved Cubbies play or enjoying them on TV. Last November, he and Brenda were blessed with their first grandson Lawson. Gareth and Lawson’s faces were always lit up with a smile when they were together quickly developing a bond between them.

Gareth took great joy coaching baseball many years with Roswell Park and Recreation. Sports was an important part of the Bevard family. Gareth always looked forward to vacationing with family in St. George, Florida, where many great memories were made thru the years. It can’t go without saying a few good fish stories were also created there.

He is survived by his wife Brenda Bevard, of Roswell, daughter Tiffany Dillard (Kevin) of Canton, Dustin Bevard (Amanda) of Alpharetta, grandson Lawson Bevard of Alpharetta, sister Valerie Kilbourn (Ed) of Easton, MD, brothers Dan Bevard (Susan) of Staford, VA, and Greg Bevard of Florida, brother-in-law Keith Meier (Lauri) of Lyndon, IL, and a host nieces and nephews, and many close friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother Alene Bevard, his mother-in-law Rosie Meier and father in-law Gordon “Skeeter” Meier.

The family received friends at Northside Chapel in Roswell on Saturday, Oct. 18 and from 2 p.m. until the time of service at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made at the Heart Association, Diabetes Association, Ovarian Cancer Research and Alpharetta First United Methodist Church.

Photo credit: Patch file