Beverly Helen (Dannatt) Boyle, 90, of Knoxville, Tenn., passed away peacefully on Dec. 4, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.
Beverly Boyle was born Aug. 13, 1935, in Clinton, to Eugene and Sarah (Cousins) Dannatt. She grew up on the family farm near Princeton, where she was active in 4-H and the Presbyterian Church. She graduated from Clinton High School in 1952 and Mount St. Clare College with an associate’s degree in education in 1954. Her first teaching position was as a kindergarten teacher at LeClaire Elementary School. During her time teaching she met the love of her life, Robert Boyle, and was married June 30, 1957. After Robert finished his enlistment in the Army, they returned to the family farm and raised their children, Clifford and Shari. While working on the farm she was active in the Princeton Presbyterian Church and McCausland UMC, where she taught Bible studies and sang in the choir. The family moved to Knoxville in 1981 to operate the family business that Robert and Beverly started, Highway Safety of Tennessee Inc. Upon retirement she worked for Community Chest and JoAnn Etc. Beverly and Robert also spent a lot of their retirement years contributing their time and resources to ministries in the Appalachian area. She was a prayer warrior and member of Powell UMC for many years, serving as Sunday School teacher, librarian, and in the UMW. She was a mentor to many, teaching sewing, crafting, ceramics, painting, knitting and crocheting, sharing her faith as she did so.
Beverly is survived by her children, Clifford (Tami) Boyle, and Shari Hitson; grandson Jacob (Connie) Boyle; great-grandsons Andrew, Oliver and Christian, and Josh; special niece Michelle Boyle; sister Dorla Schroder, brother in-law Richard Boyle; sister-in-law Dolores (Dale) Bergert: sister-in-law Sharon Boyle; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Robert; sister Patrica Braudt; sisters-in-law Sheryl Boyle and Marlene Boyle: brothers-in-law Norman Schroder, Jim Braudt and Merrill Boyle; son-in-law Marvin Hitson: nephew Steve Braudt.
Special thanks to Covenant Home Health, Covenant Cardiac Cath Lab and Covenant Hospice, Dr Francis, Dr. Ayers and Dr Doty.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, with a Celebration of Life for Beverly and Robert at 2:30, at the Two Rivers Church (Bearden Campus) 315 S Mohican St., Knoxville, TN 37919.
A memorial service will be held in McCausland at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be contributed to McCausland United Methodist Church, PO Box 154, McCausland IA, 52758
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