Biography: BEVERLY JACKSON MCCAIN, 85, of Little Rock, died on September 30, 2020, after an extended illness.  She was born on November 23, 1934, in Kansas City, Kansas, to the late Dave and Myrtle Jackson. For most of the day of her death she was surrounded by her loving family.
 
Bev attended Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas, and graduated in 1956 from the University of Kansas, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority.  She started her career as an elementary teacher in Wichita, Kansas, and through the years became a mother, a volunteer, a professional woman, an avid golfer, a lover of cruises and travel, and an indomitable spirit.
 
Bev had three sons with her first husband, James E. Hathaway, Jr., and gained three more sons after her marriage to W. Ross McCain, Jr. in 1981.  Her large extended family was a joy and the frequent birthday gatherings became a treasured tradition of the combined families and brought her great delight.  After her marriage to Ross, she became a fixture each summer at Comfort Kit cottage at Epworth Assembly, in Ludington Michigan, where she developed many great friendships.  She and Ross loved to play golf at Lincoln Hills Country Club in Ludington, and she was thrilled the year she won the women’s club championship.  When Bev first arrived at Comfort Kit, she pushed for a few modernizing touches, like moving the refrigerator inside the kitchen from its previous location outside the cottage; but ultimately, it was she who changed to match the cottage and not the other way around.  She loved the “magic porch” overlooking Lake Michigan and is thrilled that Comfort Kit continues in the McCain family.
 
Bev and Ross went on over twenty cruises, including two memorable cruises in which they brought along the entire extended McCain-Hathaway clan, all 27 or 28 of them.  Bev and Ross loved the style of more formal cruises, and often simply stayed on the boat, preferring that to the excursions on land.  Bev and Ross also loved horse racing and were long time members of the Oaklawn Jockey Club as well as partial owners of several thoroughbreds.  Occasionally, they made it to the winner’s circle.
 
Bev was a devoted parishioner at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, where she worshipped for over 50 years.  She was a member of the choir and loved the rowdy gatherings and great friends she made among the singers.  Bev loved nothing more than sitting at a piano singing along with show tunes and standards, which she continued to do even after her hearing loss made it difficult.
 
To say Bev was competitive would be an understatement, as the members of her women’s golf group at the Country Club of Little Rock can attest.  As her health failed and she could no longer play in the group, she would still attend the weekly luncheons, adding her salt to an already spicy group.  Maintaining her sense of humor until the end, when asked if her hole-in-one should be mentioned in her obituary, she raised two fingers and smiled wryly, reminding her boys that she had accomplished the feat twice.
 
Bev was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ross, and her brother, the Rev. Donald L. Jackson.  She is survived by her first husband and by her sons, James E. Hathaway III and his wife Gael Sammartino, Jeffrey R. Hathaway and his wife Laura, John C. Hathaway and his wife Pam, W. Ross McCain III and his wife Beth, Thomas N. McCain and his wife Missy, and Howard F. McCain and his wife Rachael; her grandchildren, David Hathaway, Mary Grace Hathaway, Helen Hathaway, Caroline Baber, Jackson Baber, Ross McCain IV and his wife Nicole, Charlie McCain and his wife Holley, Pam McDill and her wife Kristin McDill, the Rev. Michael McCain, Megan McCain, Katie McCain, Michelle McCain, and Nelson McCain; and her great-grandchildren, Ross McCain V, Maggie McCain, and Henry McCain.
 
She was known by many names: “Mom”, “Beverly”, “Mimi”, “Mrs. McCain”, but everyone knew her as a selfless soul with a quick smile, a beautiful voice, and a huge heart.   She shared her faith in God by example in the way she lived her life, and because of that faith she did not fear death.
 
The family sincerely thanks all who have provided such loving and skillful care to Bev, but we are especially indebted to two of her physicians, Dr. Joe Pevahouse and Dr. David Jones, for treating her as they would their own mothers.
                                                                                               
The family asks that instead of flowers or food, you consider a donation in Bev’s name to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 310 W 17th St., Little Rock, AR 72206.  Because of the current situation with COVID, her funeral will be a private ceremony for family members only.  We suggest you honor her memory as best suits you, maybe with a good story, a fine golf shot, a hearty toast, or simply contemplating a beautiful sunset.  Arrangements are under the direction or Ruebel Funeral Home, RuebelFuneralHome.com