Obituary of Beverly McElmurry

Dr. Beverly Jane McElmurry, EdD, RN, FAAN, Professor of Nursing, and Associate Dean of the University of Illinois at Chicago's College of Nursing Global Health Leadership Office, died May 14, 2010, at home in Zion. She was 72. Bev was born August 9, 1937 in Stanley, WI, to Jack McElmurry and Frances (Smith) McElmurry. Her family relocated to Zion later that same year. In her childhood, she enjoyed helping out around the home, sharing childhood adventures with her siblings, and traveling back to the Augusta, WI, area for summer vacations. She graduated from Zion-Benton Township High School, class of 1955. As a Zee-Bee, she was a Majorette in the marching band and a class officer, with a joyous involvement in many extra-curricular activities. She remained involved with her class, helping plan many of their reunions. Dr. McElmurry began her career in nursing in 1958 after graduating from the diploma program in nursing at St. Luke's Hospital, in Chicago, Illinois. She continued her education with a B.S. in Med-Surg Nursing (1961), a M.Ed in Nursing Education (1964), both from the University of Minnesota, followed by an Ed.D in Administration & Services (1973) from Northern Illinois University. During her schooling she was a staff nurse, an instructor in the Nursing Program at St. Mary's Junior College in Minneapolis, and an instructor at the School of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She became an Associate Professor at NIU's School of Nursing in 1973, at UIC College of Nursing in 1978, and a full Professor of Public Health Nursing for the UIC College of Nursing in 1983. Dr. McElmurry was Professor and Associate Dean at the UIC College of Nursing Global Health Leadership Office. She served as Director of the College's World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for International Nursing Development in Primary Health Care since its designation in 1987, was the Program Director for the UIC Minority International Research Training Program, and directed the College's Primary Health Care Research Training Program from 1995 to 2006. Dr. McElmurry was Co-Director of the UIC AIDS International Training and Research Program with programs in Chile, Indonesia, Malawi, and China, and served as Director of the Chicago Health Corps and Chicago UIC VISTA programs. With the goal of having Health Care For All, she worked to develop Primary Health Care initiatives in urban communities through nurse-led teams collaborating with local residents to develop community based access to health care. Recently funded projects include evaluation programs throughout Chicago to address health issues such as asthma monitoring in schools, development and dissemination of a Primary Health Care curriculum and services for inner city schools, and healthcare outreach to new immigrants. Her many achievements include the 1987 Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) Senior Researcher Award, the 2001 MNRS Distinguished Service Award, and the UIC College of Nursing Faculty Excellence Award from the Graduate Student Organization in 1988, 1992, 1998, and 2010. She also received the 2009 Joan L. Shaver Illinois Outstanding Nurse Leader Award and was selected as one of the University of Minnesota's 100 Distinguished Nursing Alumni. Dr. McElmurry had been a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing since 1975. She is survived by her husband, William Hosken; son, William H. "Chip" (Gabrielle Devlin) Hosken; stepson, Terence (Margaret) Hosken; stepdaughter, Leana (David) Levinsohn; father, Jack W. McElmurry; sisters, Kathleen (Ed Waddle) McElmurry and Karilyn (Daniel) Rushforth; sister-in-law, Eva McElmurry; nieces and nephews, Jodi Petree, Jacquelyn Mallek, Leslie Hagen, Lori Marabella, Justin Evans, Courtney Rushforth, Amanda Evans, Neal Rushforth, Kara Evans; six grandchildren and ten grandnieces and grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Nancy McElmurry; brother, Jack McElmurry; mother, Frances McElmurry; and stepdaughter, Kimia Hosken. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 22, 2010 at Congdon Funeral Home3012 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL. Visitation will be from 4-7 P.M., followed by a program of remembrances from 7-8 P.M. To help promote the continuing education of nurses, donations are encouraged to the Beverly J. McElmurry Scholarship fund, online at http://www.uic.edu/nursing/giving/online_gift.shtml or by check to the University of Illinois Foundation at the UIC College of Nursing / Global Health Office, 845 S. Damen (MC 802), Chicago, IL 60612.