Beverly Ann Schukar
January 28, 1933 - September 3, 2024
Obituary
Beverly Ann Francis Katherine (Parker) Schukar passed away September 3rd. She was surrounded with love by her family during her last days with us.
Beverly was born January 28, 1933, to Jack & Ann Parker and was one of three siblings along with Jack Jr. and Audrey.
Beverly was a native Washingtonian, growing up in West Seattle and completing her schooling at West Seattle High School. It was at West Seattle High that Beverly dated Frank Schukar. She was a freshman, and he was a senior. This meeting led to a 65-year marriage, although it almost didn’t happen. When Frank was in the Army, he was attached to a commander as his aide. His skills were so valued that the commander requested that Frank continue with him as his aide. This would have extended his service. When he told Beverly the news, she told him that he needed to choose between the army and her, because she would not be waiting for him when he came home. He chose her! 18 months later they started building their large family with the arrival of six children within nine years: Kim, Frank III (Bill), Karianne (Kari), Craig, Krissa, Steve. Over the decades the family has grown exponentially. At the time of her passing, through birth families and blended families, the number of in-laws, grandchildren and great-grandchildren is nearing 50 people!
To accommodate this large family, they built a house in Boulevard Park with lots of room for a family of 8 to spread out. For over 50 years, this home met their needs while their children were growing up, and it also became the gathering place for holidays and events as the family expanded with spouses and grandchildren. ‘808’ -as the house was fondly called in recent years- has been passed on to new owners, and the experiences made in it live on in the family’s stories and memories.
While it was not common for women in the 1960s, when her youngest started school, Beverly began working outside the home. Her entry into the work and business world sparked something in Beverly that would lead her to becoming a successful business owner and active participant in her community.
Beverly began working for Western Airlines as a reservationist for four years and then worked at Boeing in one of their travel offices. This was her introduction to the travel industry, and she discovered a passion for the industry and the travel adventures that it afforded her and Frank. Beverly began working in a travel agency in 1964 and was manager for 10 years.
In 1974, Beverly opened Treasure House Travel in Burien, WA, becoming one of the few woman-owned businesses at that time. Beverly was exceptional at creating relationships and built her business by leveraging not only her ties to the community, but on her excellent customer service and travel knowledge. It was Treasure House Travel’s reputation as an exceptional travel agency that ultimately kept her business going for 43 years.
Beverly excelled in her professional life. She developed long relationships with many of her customers and colleagues. Beverly was awarded Certified Travel Consultant on May 8, 1974. She was particularly active with American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), receiving ASTA Travel Advisor of the Year Award in 1996. She was also one of the first women inducted in Skål. Skål is a professional organization of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. Beverly has many friends there, and every year looked forward to participating in the Skål Toys for Tots drive.
Beverly was very proud of her Italian heritage. Her father had immigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of 5. While some of the family immigrated to the U.S., others remained behind in Italy.
While planning a trip to Europe, Beverly decided to try to look up some of her Italian relatives.
In 1984, Beverly finally had the opportunity to meet her cousin, Rosina, and Rosina’s daughter, Maura, on a trip to Milan. This meeting led to a reuniting of the family, with Beverly and Frank traveling to Ivrea, Italy for visits -often bringing other family members along on the journey. This connection to family meant everything to Beverly. Beverly also provided an opportunity for Maura to live with the family in the U.S. This opportunity further strengthened the relationship between cousins here and in Italy, especially Rosina’s family Marisa (Silvano), Maura (Guido) and Paulo (Luigina).
On one occasion, Beverly and Frank were visiting with the family in the small Italian Alps village of Vistorio where her father was born and baptized. She received a private tour of the village church and saw the baptismal font where her father was baptized. Afterwards, walking through the village, the owner of the house where her father was born and lived before immigrating offered to let Beverly tour the house. This was a precious gift to Beverly and a moment that would forever be a highlight of her life.
During her final few years, Beverly suffered with dementia. Throughout this time, despite the struggle of memory loss, Beverly continued to enjoy her social interactions, making friends wherever she made her home.
Beverly was preceded in death by her beloved Frank in November 2018 and by her oldest grandson, Kristopher Kime, in 2001. Her sister, Audrey Ulness, and brother, Jack Parker, predeceased her in 2022.
She is survived by her children: Kim (Jay), Bill (DeAnna), Kari (Johnny), Craig (Timm), Krissa (Markus) and Steve. She leaves behind 12 living grandchildren and their partners: Courtney (Jason), Keith (Allison), Nicole (Jon), Kirsten (Curtis), David (Kristen), Brittany (Nick), Joe (Lyndsey), Cameron (Diana), Lisa (Parker), Anna (Eli), Elsha (Taran) and Michael. Her great-grandchildren of born and blended families total 22.
Beverly would wish to thank for their long-term support and friendship, her dearest friends: Margaret Jones, Cher Hague, Linda Chauvin and Nancy Stang. She would also like to thank all her travel industry friends, family and clients.
A Celebration of Life for Frank and Beverly will be held at 1pm Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Tukwila Community Center 12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila, WA 98168.
Forever in the corner of my heart reserved for simply “the best”
A piece of my heart will be forever for Beverly.
As she let me be part of her family, now I can say that this is my family.
And I am so proud of it!
And to all of them, I can say that she was a real mother to me.
All my love, all the wonderful memories we created thru the years, are the most precious gifts Life could give me.
Beverly was a mentor to me in the travel industry and sponsored me in to SKAL. Because of her, I will hopefully be president next year. We also continue toys for tots every year. She always brought a mountain of toys. She also spearheaded our auctions with her handmade candles and home baked cookies we always looked forward to. I know she is with her darling Frank and her beloved grandson. She was a sweet person and a powerhouse of a woman.
69 years ago 4 couples (Schukar, Vogelpohl, Burger, and Hoganson) decided to have a date night once a month, getting a babysitter for each house, and locating a restaurant that would take coupons (remember those books?). An often recalled evening was one at a restaurant on Beach Drive where we were talking and laughing, waiting to give our dinner order, when the waitress came up and took away the wine list. It made us all laugh harder as we did not need to have wine to have an enjoyable evening together. We remained friends, and sorry to say, that now we are left only with memories of the other 3 couples. Bless our friends and their families. And don’t forget those hugs. Lyle and Audrey Vogelpohl