Reverend Beverley Ann Marie Irwin

Reverend Beverley Ann Marie Irwin, M.Div.
1941 – 2023

Bev’s family, friends and community mourn Bev’s passing at Hospice Peterborough on October 8, 2023. Bev was 82 years of age. Bev was recently pre-deceased by her spouse Heather Graham, and had been living with the devastating loss of her daughter Lori Gray, in December 2021. Bev leaves behind her beloved son Lane Gray, wife Jan and cherished granddaughter Zoe; siblings Janette (predeceased by Walter Shean and Brian Moriarty); Mary Elizabeth (Jim Slavin); Blake (Jan); Paul (Marina); Catherine (predeceased by Bruce Earle); and Heather (Alex Davidson); and her adored nieces and nephews.

Bev’s earliest years were on the Mortimer family farm south of Honeywood, Ontario. She grew up on the Redickville farm with her six siblings and mother Mary Amelia (née Martin) and father Heber Mortimer Dixon Irwin, who operated a mixed farm and later specialized in potato crops. As a teen, Bev directed Canadian Girls In Training (CGIT) summer camps, and finished high school at Albert College in Belleville. She began her career with the United Church of Canada providing pastoral care with various charges in south-west Saskatchewan, where she met and married Harold Gray (deceased) who owned a farm near Admiral. Bev completed her Master of Divinity at University of Saskatchewan in 1994. Bev met Heather in Saskatchewan in 1984, where they worked with a number of United Church of Canada congregations until their move to Penetanguishene in 2001, where Bev made her career serving congregations throughout Southern Ontario. Bev retired in early 2019. Her last charge was at St. Paul’s United Church in Midland with her co-minister Karen Ptolemy-Stam. Karen describes Bev as “full of joy, and always so positive – the genuine Bev!” In October 2021 Bev moved to Millbrook Ontario to live with her sisters Janette and Mary Elizabeth. Bev is remembered for her kindness, generosity and unconditional acceptance of others, her quiet listening demeanor, her ready laughter and her willingness to make room in her life for anyone in need. Bev loved farming, especially working alongside her father. Her gardens were her great joy, and she always made time to learn and to write. Most years, Bev had a tent-trailer or RV ready to hit the road, and in later years, her love of baseball made her a devoted fan of the Toronto Blue Jays. Together, Bev and Heather made a profound impact on the communities they served, and Bev leaves behind countless beneficiaries of her love and care.

You are invited to a virtual Memorial service for both Bev and Heather on Tues. Nov. 14 at 1:30 EST. This link (https://youtube.com/live/NPSCHYvNi0Y?feature=share) takes you directly to the
service. If you are not available at 1:30 you can watch the service any time after.

Please make donations in Bev’s memory to:
St. Paul’s United Church Midland (https://www.stpaulsmidland.org/give)

Community Care Peterborough (https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/community-care-
peterborough/)

Hospice Peterborough (https://www.hospicepeterborough.org/donate/); or a hospice of your choice.

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