Beverly Jean Dempsey

Beverly Jean Carruthers Dempsey (“Jean”) was born on January 8, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri, and shortly thereafter settled with her family in Paola, Kansas, where she attended Paola High School.

In January 1946, she married Leo M. Dempsey (“Mike”) of Osawatomie, Kansas, after his return from service in World War II. They soon started a family and determined that Mike would make a career in the U.S. Navy. Jean traveled the United States and the Pacific to be with Mike when she could and to maintain the homefront when Mike was deployed overseas.

In 1970, Mike retired from the Navy, and Jean and Mike returned to Olathe, Kansas, where Jean would live into her 90s. Jean loved people, and people loved her. She enjoyed many extended family outings and holidays, dancing with her husband at the Olathe Trail Riders Club, gardening, an occasional trip to Las Vegas with her sisters and friends, and working at the Johnson County Treasurer’s Office.

After retiring from the Johnson County Treasurer’s office and Mike’s death in 1997, she continued to live a life filled with people and activities, including antiquing with her sister and friends, going to casinos, cheering on the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team, and traveling across the United States and abroad.

Through the various stages of life, Jean always maintained a zest for living and was admired by those who had the privilege to know her. She was a generous and caring person who put the needs and comfort of others above her own. She brought joy to everyone whose life she touched. She was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, four sisters, and one brother. She is survived by two sons, Jack Dempsey (Peggy) and Michael D. Dempsey (Mary), and one daughter, Anna Marie Dempsey, as well as two grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A rosary will be said for Jean at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church at 509 E. Chippewa Street, Paola, Kansas 66071. The rosary will be followed by a Mass at 10:30 a.m. The immediate family will have a private graveside service after the Mass and will return thereafter to the Parish Center to celebrate Jean’s life with those who would like to join the family.

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