Beverly Shaner Fennell, age 86, of Little Rock, born February 27, 1924 died Thursday, March 4, 2010. She was born in Bolivar, New York to Alta Allen and Samuel Shaner. Beverly attended William Smith College in Geneva, New York, where she met her husband of 49 years, Ernest J.W. Fennell. Bev and Ernie married in 1944 in Corpus Christi, Texas where he was a flight instructor in the United States Navy.

Bev and Ernie began a family that would grow to six children. In 1950 they moved to Versailles, Kentucky where Beverly worked for several years at the Woodford Sun Newspaper. They were active members of St. John’s Episcopal Church and developed many lifelong friendships there.

The Fennell’s moved to Fort Smith in 1963, and then to Little Rock in 1967. A year later Beverly (who during this time became known as “Granny”) and Ernie established St. Francis House, now in its fourth decade of pursuing critical ministries carried out on behalf of needy people in the community.

Ernie’s work took them to the Chicago area in the mid 70’s. While in Chicago, Beverly, who had studied herbs and their uses for decades, taught classes at the prestigious Chef’s Mart and was a media representative for KFC. After retirement in 1982, Beverly and Ernest moved to Franklin, Tennessee, where they established an herb farm, Hyssop Hill, and opened a cooking school. While in Franklin Bev was the host of a long-running PBS show on gardening and herbs.

After Ernest died in 1992 Beverly moved back to Little Rock where she was an active member of the Arkansas Unit of the Herb Society of America and served several times as Chair of the Arkansas Unit. Beverly received the Herb Society of America’s Certificate of Achievement Award May 5, 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona. Beverly was a member of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church.

Beverly is predeceased by her husband The Reverend Ernest J. W. Fennell, two daughters, Laurie Hensley and Fianna Combs, and a brother, Sam Shaner.

She is survived by her children; Bridget Farris (Richard) and Tom M. Fennell (Ellen) of Little Rock, Debe Fennell and Harvey Fennell (Nancy) of Reno, Nevada, her sister, Nancy Repp of Allentown, PA., two sons-in-law; David Hensley of Little Rock, and Mark Combs of Reno, Nevada, eleven grandchildren; Amy Gill, Samuel Murphy, Henry Murphy, Tom W. Fennell, Matthew Farris, Greyson Farris, Rebecca Dickson Keenan, Katrina Dickson, Jesse Combs, Rachel Combs, Julie Combs and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Friday evening, March 5, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.at Ruebel Funeral Home. A service celebrating Beverly’s life will be held Saturday, March 6, 2010 at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church at 3:00 p.m. under the direction of The Reverend “Hap” Hoffman. There will be a reception following the service. Arrangements under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers to St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 20900 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock 72223, or the Herb Society of America, Arkansas Unit, 64 Bouresse Dr. Little Rock, Arkansas 72223.