Beverly Heaton Kimball

Beverly Heaton Kimball, 68, of Eastham and formerly Ashland, passed away on Dec. 4 in Eastham with her loving husband, Russell, by her side. The daughter of Richard Harry Heaton and Bernice Marble Heaton, Beverly grew up in Ashland and graduated from Ashland High School, Class of 1970, followed by Bates College with honors in English in 1974.

After teaching language arts for three years at Plymouth-Carver Intermediate School, Beverly attended Boston University and earned a master’s in special education in 1978. She then worked as a special educator at Raymond J. Grey Junior High School from 1978-95.

Following their dreams to live and work on the Cape, in 1995 Bev and Russ moved to Eastham. Russ founded a flight school, Race Point Aviation in Provincetown, while Bev became director of Project Forward, a nationally recognized program for students with complex learning difficulties, at Cape Cod Community College. From 1995-2005 she was director, student advisor and instructor. Under her leadership, PF became a nationally recognized school-to-work transition program for young adults with disabilities. Working with high school teachers, parents, community leaders and local employers, her program expanded from 12 to over 200 students within a decade and became a model of collaboration, empowering the lives of many students.

While living on the Cape, Bev and Russ created many happy memories gathering with family and friends. They shared a passion for dogs, training three to become certified therapy dogs with the Companion Animal Program of Cape Cod. Beverly was an active visitor at Orleans Senior Center and worked for several years coordinating a therapy dog program for elementary school students in the Dennis-Yarmouth regional schools.

In 2015 Bev graduated from the Four Winds Society and received her certification as a shamanic energy healer. An artist in watercolor and stained glass, she also was a certified Reiki Master. Bev journaled avidly and was an author; the second enhanced edition of her book, “Sometimes the Magic Works: A Synchronistic Journey” (2003) will be published posthumously in 2021.

In addition to her husband, Beverly is survived by her siblings, Richard H. Heaton and wife Jean of Bolton, Nancy Heaton Lonstein and husband Jeffrey of Westborough, and Donald Heaton of Hopkinton, along with many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

There will be a celebration of life shared on Zoom to be announced. Donations in Beverly’s memory may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, LLS-New England, P.O. Box 22471, New York, NY 10087-2471, or the First Parish Brewster, 969 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631, where she was an active member for many years. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Matarese Funeral Home in Ashland.