Margaret Beasley Craft (Deannie) passed away at her home in Salem on May 3, 2016, after a long and difficult battle with Merkel cell cancer. Deannie was the daughter of Margaret and Enoch W. Beasley and was born on April 1, 1951.

She was a nursing administrator for Salem Veterans Hospital in Salem. She graduated from Rappahannock High School and Piedmont Community College School of Nursing.  Deannie received a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University. She received her Master’s Degree in Nursing Management from the University of Texas. Her working life was dedicated to the field of healthcare serving as a nurse and nurse administrator. She pursued her passion as an advocate for veteran’s healthcare especially the disabled veterans.

Deannie leaves behind her loving and devoted husband, John Craft; her daughter, Mistie Dickenson and her husband, Edward; her son, Brian Llewellyn and his wife, Kelley; her grandchildren, Alexandre and Gabriel Dickenson, Margaret Kathleen Llewellyn, Austin Greer, and Chloe Deep. Deannie is also survived by her mother, Margaret Beasley Thomas; her brothers, Enoch W. (Buster) (Mary Lou) and Tommy W. Beasley (Sandy); her sisters, Gloria R. Smith (Donnie) and Shirley B. Barrack and numerous nephews and nieces.  Deannie is also survived by Rosie, her Shorkie; and her dear friend, Dr. Jasbir Mavi.   Deannie was preceded in death by her son, William G. Llewellyn III (Billy), her granddaughter, Genevieve Cerroni, and her father, Enoch Webb Beasley.

A celebration of Deannie’s life will be held on the banks of the Rappahannock River at 192 Sion House Circle, Mothershead Neck Road, Farnham, on Saturday, May 14 at 2 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, 401 N. Broadway, Weinberg Building, Baltimore, MD 21231 or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Simpson Funeral Home & Crematory.