Beverly Campsey

   Boys & Girls Club of Vernon executive director and long-time community leader Beverly Campsey, 75, died on Monday, Sept. 15, 2015 in Dallas. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015 at the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Gib Baskerville officiating. Interment will be at Wilbarger Memorial Park under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home.
   Campsey was born Jan. 23, 1940 in Seagraves. She was the daughter of the Julia Ellen Williamson James and the late Osvell Meridwell James. She married Palmer Brooks Campsey on Nov. 1, 1958 in Knox City. He preceded her in death on Jan.19, 2006.
   Campsey was a long-time leader, volunteer, and tireless worker for the community and the First Baptist Church, where she was a member and taught Sunday School for some 35 years. In 2006, she was recognized for her service to the community by being named Vernon’s Citizen of the Year.
   Campsey was a member of the Junior Service League organization committee which founded the Girls Club of Vernon in 1969. She volunteered at the club for two years before being named program director, and in 1972 was named executive director. She served as director for both the Boys Club and the Girls Club during interim periods. When the clubs merged, she was named executive director. She oversaw the fundraising, design and construction of a $460,000 facility in 1984 after the original building was destroyed by fire, and a $1.2 million capital campaign in 2002 for the new addition. The Girls Club, rebuilt after the fire and continued operation during the rebuilding. The Boys Club of Vernon and Girls Club of Vernon merged in 1997 to become the Boys & Girls Club of Vernon with Campsey as the club’s executive director.
   Campsey’s commitment to the Boys & Girls Club over the years was well-known and admired.
   “In all the years I have been on the board since the Boys & Girls Club combined, I knew Beverly to have one desire and one motive, and that was to do everything and achieve everything for the kids,” Gene White, Boys & Girls Club board president, said. “She always talked about the kids and what we could do to improve everything for them. That was her desire, her passion.”
   Over the year’s Campsey’s professional involvement included: New Directors Orientation: George Williams College, Lake Geneva, Wi / Padre Island; Texas Advanced Management Training, Indianapolis, Ind.; Management by Objective, Santa Fe, N.M.; Grant Writing, Lubbock, and Dallas; National Youthworker Education Project, Indianapolis, Ind.;  Project Home Safe & Partners for Parenting, Texas A&M Research Center, Vernon; Southwest Region Administrative Conference Planning Committee, hosted the North Texas Area Council and Youth of the Year, active in Texas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Area Council Summit, served as secretary of North Texas Area Council, Member of SOE Task Force, member of the Professional Association, on the Area Council Planning Committees for Southwest Leadership Conference, served as Area Council Secretary, worked on committee for the first SOE, completed Advanced Leadership Program training and was a member of Leadership University.
   Campsey’s extensive community involvement included being a member of the Wilbarger County Outreach Advisory Board, a Past Rolling Plains Management Corporation Board member, Wilbarger County Extension Home Economics Advisory Committee, Wichita Falls State Hospital Children’s Mental Health Advisory Board Building Committee, First Baptist Church, Sixth Grade Department Director  and Sunday School teacher for 35 years, First Baptist Church Camp Fire leader for 10 years, a Cub Scout Den Mother for three years, past American Cancer Society Board member, board member of the Wilbarger Humane Society, named Outstanding Citizen of Vernon in 2006, recipient of the Business & Professional Woman of the Year award, a member of the City of Vernon Swimming Pool Committee, served as a Cub Scout leader and Camp Fire leader, served on First Baptist Church building committee for six years, was a member of First Baptist Church Administration Team, was a member of the Salvation Army board and was a cancer survivor.
   Campsey is survived by her mother, Julia James of Vernon; two sons, Palmer Chet Campsey and wife, Sherrie, of Vernon, and James Chan Campsey and wife, Jennifer, of Whitehouse; a daughter, Angie Speer and husband, Chris, of Dallas, and her grandchildren, Amanda Henry and husband, J.D., Christopher Campsey, Kyle Campsey and wife Katelyn, Candace Campsey, Cody Campsey, Sophia Campsey and Colton Campsey. She is also survived by her dear friend, Kay Belew.
   Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015 at Sullivan Funeral Home.
   Memorials can be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Vernon, and online condolences may be made to the family at www.sullifanhomevernon.com.