Beverly Jo Sanders Schalon

Beverly Jo Sanders Schalon of Lake Charles died December 19,2024.

Born in Starkville, MS in 1942 to Elmer and Frances Sanders, Beverly spent her childhood in Kentwood, LA, graduating from Kentwood High School in 1960, Always an adventurer and independent thinker, Beverly attended LSU (where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority), choosing a major in zoology when pure science was not a usual direction for a "girl". She moved to Lake Charles where she was employed by Pittsburgh Plate Glass (later PPG), one of the first females to work in the lab, first as a technician, then as a chemist and finally as a quality management professional, earning a second degree in chemistry from McNeese along the way. Lake Charles and the Lab were her home for 37 years. After her "official" retirement, she worked as a consultant for small companies for an additional 15 years.

In 1970, Beverly married David Schalon, "the smartest man I ever knew", and his job took them to Belgium for three years, a move that sparked the adventure gene again.

After David's death and her retirement, Beverly traveled to over 80 countries, "far-away places with strange sounding names", visiting at least one foreign country every year.

When she wasn't abroad, she served on the Board of the Lake Charles Symphony and did extensive work with the United Way that earned her the Volunteer of the Year award.

There will be no funeral service because Beverly on her 75th birthday, not wanting to miss her Wake, gave herself a Celebration of Life party attended by over 100 people. She is survived by "people who made my life so much richer": cousin Alice Mary Honeycutt; in-laws Toni, Virginia, Fred, Joe Schalon and Marian Edinger; former workmates, Ellen Langley, Tommy Vizena, Pat Brooks, Linda Rideau, Emily Hider, Anne Corbello, and Carolyn Sharp; sorority sisters Becky Abbot, Marcy Cann and Jackie Ducote; a travel buddy, Paula Robb; and Johnette Szydio," the best friend anyone could desire"

Beverly said that part of her rich and full life had included the Saints winning a Super Bowl and the Tigers a National Championship after an undefeated season. She hoped Heaven included 50 yard-line season tickets!

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.