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THS Classmate, Beverly Bailey Hightower of Westport Ct. died June 8, 2015. Hightower was a former teacher in the Westport Ct. school system and wife of fellow Westport educator Glenn Hightower. She was 72. Word of her passing came first from classmates, Kathy DeWeese (Sinzheimer) and Nancy Dittimore (Macdonell).
She was born Beverly Lyn Bailey on Feb. 20, 1943 in Topeka, Kansas to Arthur E. Bailey and Helen (Chatska) Bailey. She graduated in the top of her Topeka High School class in 1961 and attended Washburn University in Topeka on full academic scholarship. She was president of her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, sang with the Washburn Belles, cheered with the Ichabod Cheerleaders and graduated magna cum laude in 1965. She married Glenn Hightower from Oklahoma and after graduate school they moved to Westport to begin working in the Westport Public Schools.
Her parents, her brother Gene Bailey, her sisters Barbara and Tootie and a nephew precede her in death. She is survived by her husband, Glenn, daughters Holly, Julie and Heather, and their families, including four grandchildren; sister-in-law Bernadetta Bailey, and her children; brothers-in-law Phillip and Richard Hightower and their families.
A celebration of life will be held June 13, at 3 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Westport/Weston, 49 Weston Road.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the “Beverly (Bailey) Hightower Scholarship Fund” at Washburn University or the United Methodist Church of Westport/Weston, 49 Weston Road, Westport CT 06880.
Washburn University Online:
https://www.givetowashburn.org/givenow
Select “Other” and fill in “Beverly (Bailey) Hightower Scholarship Fund
OR
The United Methodist Church of Westport/Weston
http://www.westportumc.org/
Write: In honor of Beverly Hightower
The complete family obit can be found at: www.WestportNOW.com
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Suzanne Robinett (Brown)
While in HS, I was friendly with Bev - not "friends" - she was WAY out of my league - but friendly. I reconnected with her a couple of times when our 50th reunion info came out and I discovered that she lived in Westport, CT - only about 20-30 minutes from where my son lives in CT. When she told me that she had RA and was in a wheelchair, I just couldn't believe it. Bev was a bundle of energy and I just couldn't imagine her so confined. I was disappointed that she was not going to be at the 50th but her husband had recently had a heart attack or stroke - can't remember which - and was not well enough to travel. We discovered that her son-in-law was in the same residency program at Johns Hopkins as the son-in-law of one of my closest friends - small world. We had planned to see one another on my next trip to CT but that didn't happen as a next trip didn't happen due to a pending divorce for my son. I so regret not seeing her again. She laughed and said I was probably one of the few of our classmates who had any idea where Westport even was or what it was like! She was a wonderful person and taken from her family WAY too soon. Just heartbreaking.
Jim Bunds
I sorry to hear of Beverly Bailey's passing. She was very popular at THS and WU. I was not in anything during these years but somehow she knew of me and was gracious in the only contact we had after graduations. Her contact with me was so kind. While I only had this one contact with her, I know the world is a poorer place without her.
Kathleen Ramsey (Arbogast)
Beverly was always smiling and upbeat. I did not know her well just remember her in the halls of Troy. She was always friendly to me.
Bonnie J. Knight (DeWeese)
Bev was one of my dearest friends when we were younger! We sang in a trio with Jo Johnson at many assemblies, events, and programs in high school, at Washburn, and in Topeka. She had so much talent, enthusiasm,and energy--we had a lot of fun. We sang in the Washburn Belles along with many of the former Madrigals from THS. We even worked in an ice cream store together for awhile--she used to bake me cakes when I was down.
Bev & I kept in touch over the years, sharing special events in each other's lives. I got to visit her in Conn. when our girls were young. It was a blessing to me just to know that she was there. I will miss her.
Robert J. Armstrong
I knew Bev as a fellow classmate through THS and WU (I thought that she was also at Capper JHS, but am not sure). She was always so friendly and involved in so many activities that everyone knew her. We did serve together in the Usher Club our senior year at THS. It is very sad to hear about her passing along with so many of our classmates. I agree with Dennis Hawver when he once said that we should have 30 more years. That is my plan anyway. To all who read this, enjoy life each day because we really don't know what tomorrow will bring.
Robert (Bob) Armstrong
Frank R. Chaffin
So sorry to hear of Beverly ' s passing. Went to Crane, THS, Washburn U with her. She was always positive and joyful. She will bee missed.Too many of our classmates passing now!*
Gerald L. (Jerry) Isaac
I was shocked and so sorry to read of Beverly's death. She was definitely on the "A List" at Topeka High, and I was not. She was always friendly with me, though, as she seemed to be with everyone. She always seemed to be so strong and active. I would have thought she would be among the last of us to go. It is sad knowing she is not with us anymore. Jerry Isaac