Prestay, Beverly "Bev" – 58, Springhill, it is with great sadness that we announce Bev passed away on July 23, 2026 in All Saints Hospital, Springhill after a brief battle with an aggressive cancer. Bev was born in Truro, June 15, 1968 to the late Donald and Ruth(Webb) Reid. Bev lost her mom at the early of 11 years of age and lived with her brother Peter and his wife Lottie from 13 until she was 18 years of age. For the past 5 years Bev worked at Open Sky Co-operative in Sackville, NB where she was a mentor with many participants who benefited from her kind heart as well as being the Kitchen Co-ordinator.

Bev loved everything within nature, anything that she could get "dirty" (gardening, putting wood away, shoveling manure etc); hiking, biking, skating, anything that would get her outside. Her stolen weekends away with her cousin/sister Christa were something she treasured dearly and enjoyed beyond words to get back to the little slice of heaven of Higgins Mountain. This was where she was able to enjoy her childhood stories, favorite sights and the love of family. Many cups of coffee and cookies, piling wood for Uncle Ernie, hearing stories of her mom from Aunt Wavey and enjoying reconnecting with cousins and friends. Bev never met a stranger.

Bev's true love, though, was family, her kids were her whole world and she loved them all to the moon and back. Family was so important to Bev, from her second home of Aunt Wavey and Uncle Ernie whose family considered her an extra daughter/sister, brothers whom she didn't get to see as often as she wished but treasured the visits she did enjoy, to her nieces and nephews and cousins all were treasured in Bev's extra large heart. Bev was the champion of the underdog, strong in her conviction that everyone deserved kindness and love which she demonstrated to any who came within her sphere. She attracted strays both animals and people as she had such a capacity for love and giving. She was never one who spoke up for herself which all within the family recognizes as a strong family trait traced to her mom and Aunt Wavey "I'm fine" being the often used refrain.

The loss of this beautiful soul is immeasurable. She was loved by everyone who knew her and will be deeply missed. She is survived by her children, Alex Reid, Tillian, Waverly and Kian Prestay, all of Springhill; brothers, Peter Reid (Lottie), Darling Lake and Tim Reid (Gloria), Middleboro; brother-in-law, Dean Ryder, Moncton; maternal aunt, Wavey (Webb) Wood, Truro; extra siblings, Peggy, David, Gary and Christa, Westchester; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her parents she was predeceased by her sister, Sherry Ryder and uncle, Ernest Wood. Special thanks to her niece Allisha Steeves for helping the family navigate the Moncton Hospital and to Open Sky for both supporting Bev and her children during this heartbreaking time.

Arrangements are in the care of MacDiarmid's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Oxford. A celebration of life will be held at the Westchester Fire Hall, 123 Valley Rd, Westchester on Thursday, July 30th, from 2-4 pm, with words of remembrance at 3pm. In honour of Bev please wear bright colours. Donations may be made to Open Sky Co-operative, Sackville, NB.