Husband: Caregiver would give shirt off her back

ERIE – Beverly Alls’ life was about helping people.

» Related story — Newman coping with deaths: School hit by 
loss of student, classmate’s mother.

As a certified nursing assistant who provided home care for seniors who didn’t want to live in nursing homes, she offered dignity to her clients by cooking, cleaning and helping in the bathroom.

Alls, 69, of Erie, was on her way to a client in Rock Falls Tuesday, when she was killed in a head-on crash at U.S. Route 30 and state Route 2.

Her husband, Jerry Alls, 65, said Beverly was a hard worker who never spoke about retiring.

“She would help anybody in the world and give the shirt off her back,” Jerry said.

She loved to garden, the outdoors and camping on the Mississippi River. She also planned to buy a Honda Goldwing Trike when she turned 70
next month.

“She always wanted one.”

Lois Fitzwater is Beverly Alls’ sister-in-law. After Fitzwater had gallbladder surgery in March of last year, she had to stay in the hospital for 3 days. During the stay, Alls sat by Fitzwater’s side during the day and went to work at night.

Alls never appeared to be tired, Fitzwater said.

“She loved what she was doing,” Fitzwater said. “If you like what you’re doing, you don’t get tired.”

Services 
planned

Services for the two victims of Tuesday night’s fatal vehicle crash have been scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

Visitation for Michael McGarvey is 3-7 p.m. Friday at McDonald Funeral Home, 1002 12th Ave., Rock Falls. The funeral is 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Catholic Church, 500 Ave. B, Sterling, with a private burial at Grove Cemetery, Morrison.

Visitation for Beverly Alls is 4-7 p.m. Friday at Gibson Funeral Home, 616 Main St., Erie. The funeral is 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with burial at Erie Cemetery.

Obituaries on A4