Beverly Joyce Boland, age 87, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away on May 21, 2026 at The Maples Health and Rehabilitation Center surrounded by her family.

Beverly (Bev) was born to Orville and Dorothy (Gladys) Merritt on April 1,1939 in Decatur, Illinois. She was raised in South Central Illinois as an only child to her mill working father and doting mother, a good portion of that time reading, playing paper dolls, and learning how to play the piano. One of her first jobs as a young teenager was playing the piano for a local ballet studio, paving her way to work while truly doing what she loved.

At the age of 12, Beverly accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior, and was baptized. From that point on, she lived her life serving the Lord, never wavering from her faith. Her faith in Jesus determined everything she did in her personal, professional, and ministry life. She lived out this faith until the very day she entered Heaven.

Beverly graduated from Paris High School in Paris, Illinois. She began her college pursuits towards a Music Education degree at a smaller university before landing at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. It was there that she met the love of her life, Richard (Rich) Boland.

Upon both of them graduating with bachelor’s degrees in music education, they were united in marriage on June 4,1961. They both continued working on their Master’s Degrees in Music Education while teaching in Oakland,Illinois. Beverly taught elementary vocal music while Rich was the Band and Choir Director at Oakland High School. It was during this time 2 children were born to this union, Camilla and David. It was also during this time, Richard desired to get his Doctorate at University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. Beverly faithfully supported his endeavors by substitute teaching, typing Rich’s dissertation, and raising their young children.

Upon getting his doctorate, Rich led his family to Las Vegas, New Mexico where Beverly taught piano lessons in her home while Rich was director of Bands at Highlands University. From there, the couple moved to Springfield, Missouri where Beverly and Rich both became music professors at Baptist Bible College (now Mission University). Beverly taught piano, organ, music theory, and other music classes while mentoring college students throughout her 40+ years career. Her influence on her students is still evident today.

From the time of their marriage, Rich and Bev did everything together. They worked together, they taught together, spent wonderful family time together, and most importantly, ministered together at their local church wherever they lived….whether in Illinois, Colorado, New Mexico, or Missouri. As Rich led as music minister, choir director, and Sunday School teacher, Beverly would support as pianist, organist, or director of children’s choirs. They put on many musical productions at church and at BBC in which Beverly was an important support through rehearsals, performances, making costumes or props, and hosting choir parties in their home. She especially loved playing offertories on the pipe organ at Cherry Street Baptist Church. They traveled on mission trips world-wide using their musical talents and gifts for the Lord as Beverly was always at the keyboard while Richard was singing or playing his saxophone and clarinet.

They shared this wonderful partnership until Richard passed to Heaven in 2016. Beverly has missed him every day until they were reunited. Beverly continued serving the Lord even though she suffered with many severe physical ailments to the point she was confined to a wheel chair and ultimately moved to the Maples. While at the Maples, she was instrumental in getting a church service started on Sunday afternoons (hosted by preachers from Cherry Street Baptist Church) , would play the piano one handedly, when needed. She would attend Bible Study at the Maples while encouraging other residents with scriptures that she would have printed off so she could help others during difficult times. She asked the residents, her nurses, and aides for their prayer requests and would pray diligently for them. She loved people and people loved her.

Beverly is remembered by her family for how much she loved them. She loved hosting Sunday family dinners and holiday get togethers with her loved ones. She loved a good cookout in the backyard and family birthday parties at her house. She enjoyed crafting, flower gardening, reading, camping, family vacations, and dogs…each named after a musical composer or famous conductor. She loved to travel, collecting magnets, Christmas tree ornaments, and nativity scenes from the countries she visited. She is remembered as being a classy dresser, always being put together with hair fixed and lipstick on …even on camping trips. Yet, not ostentatious or drawing attention to herself.

Beverly was preceded in death by her father Orville Merritt; mother Dorothy (Gladys) Merritt; spouse Richard Boland. She is survived by her daughter, Camilla Durbin; son David Boland; son-in-law Robert Durbin; daughter-in-law Heather Boland; three granddaughters and their spouses; Adrienne Riedle and husband Logan; Abigail Follis and husband Jon; Claire Furber and husband Justus; and five great-grandchildren; Bristol Riedle, Tanton Riedle, Hazel-Eliana Riedle, Ezra Follis and Evelynn Follis.

Beverly will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, a music teacher, a great pianist and organist, and a spiritual mentor and servant. She was often described by others as genuine, caring, and kind, who loved her family, her music, and mostly her Lord Jesus.

A Visitation for Beverly will be held on Tuesday, 26th of May 2026, from 5:00-7:00 PM, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield, Missouri. A Funeral Service for Beverly will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 1:00 PM at Cherry Street Baptist Church, Viewing time starting at Noon, with a burial to follow at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Beverly’s memory to Cherry Street Baptist Church to support Missionary Work.