Beverly Ann Cochran Barnett died on May 17, 2025. She was born in Metropolis, Illinois to Charles Victor and Lucy Kornegger Cochran on April 27, 1929.

Beverly was an avid fan of travel. With her husband, she toured five continents and all fifty of the United States. Her great joy was traveling in their R.V. to another scenic adventure. She shared her travels with others. Beverly and Vernie took each of their ten grandchildren on a trip wherever they chose to go in the continental United States. This took them from the Northeast to Yellowstone Park and from Virginia to the Grand Canyon. After that was over, the entire family group of twenty cruised to Alaska. As members of the Nomads, a volunteer service group, Vernie and Beverly drove to Alaska to work on a church there, and to other places to help others. Beverly was also an animal lover. She shared this love with her many pets through the years.

Beverly attended Lindenwood College, graduated from Southern Illinois University, and earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois. She taught in New York state, Vandalia, Illinois, and Decatur, Illinois school systems. She was a teacher of young children who loved teaching and loved her students.

She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Church Women United, The Alpha Rho chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa Teacher’s Sorority, and other groups. At the time of her death, Beverly was a member of First United Methodist Church, Decatur, IL.

Above all, Beverly loved her family. She was married to her high school sweetheart, Vernie, for 71 wonderful years. Beverly is survived by daughters: Cynthia (Isidro) Rivera of Lawrence, KS, Ann (Peter) Erickson of Champaign, IL, Jennifer Tallent of Decatur, IL; son Ted (Melanie) Barnett of Melbourne, FL; grandchildren: Eleanor Rivera (Ben Post) of Murray, KY, Aurora Erickson (Chris Hayes) of Lowell, MA, Austin Rivera (Diana Abernethy) of Winston-Salem, NC, Andrew Barnett (Valerie Wanamaker) of Asheville, NC, Benjamin (Rachal) Erickson of Mahomet, IL, Nathaniel (Jessica) Tallent of Decatur, IL, Katharine (Ian) McArthur of Madison, WI, Angela (Ulysses) Harris of Decatur, IL, William Erickson (Maureen Wietecha) of Champaign, IL, Melissa Tallent of Decatur, IL; great-grandchildren: Aaron, Jocelyn, Aura, Juliette, River, Quinton, Arya, Violet, Elias, Eden, Fiona, Amelia, Declan, Lila; and sister-in-law Jane Raphael of Granite City, IL.

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son-in-law James Tallent, and a daughter, Angela.

As was her wish, cremation rites will be accorded. There will be a private family service at a later date.

Memorials may be made in Beverly’s name with the United Women of Faith of First United Methodist Church or Preachers’ Aid Society.