Beverly Cave McConnell, granddaughter of one of Bainbridge Island’s pioneer families, died Aug. 27 at her home in Allyn. She was 68.

She was the first child born to Myra (Noble) and Clinton Robert Cave in Seattle, Feb. 26, 1935, and the first grandchild of Lillian Grant (Billings) and Robert Albert Cave, Winslow residents since 1888.

She was joined by siblings Nancy, Robert and Marcia. They were raised in the home built in 1898 by their grandfather R.A. Cave, a horticulturalist, on the corner of Winslow Way and Ferncliff.

As an elementary student she attended Lincoln School, but recalled being bused to Pleasant Beach during World War II.

She remembered that on several occasions, the principal lowered the flag to half mast and assembled students to stand at attention as damaged war ships passed on their way to the Bremerton shipyard.

She graduated from Bainbridge Island High School in 1953 and recalled growing up on the island with fondness. Her class, which meets annually, just celebrated its 50th reunion. Classmates remember her for being sharp-witted, fun loving and able to catch a fly ball with her bare hands.

In 1971 the Cave family relocated to 259 Ferncliff, the house built in 1897-98 on adjoining property by Robert’s brother William Cave.

She attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, where she met and married Peter L. James. She graduated in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

The couple had two children, and made their home in Seattle.

Following a divorce, Beverly obtained her teaching credentials from the University of Washington.

She began her career at Beacon Hill Elementary School in Seattle and continued teaching there for 25 years. She retired in 1992; many former students contacted her to acknowledge her positive contribution toward shaping their lives.

She met C. Keith McConnell, a Boeing personnel director, in Seattle. They married Feb. 14, 1970.

The couple made their home on Queen Anne Hill and later retired to Allyn. During their retirement, the McConnells enjoyed extensive travels together, the most exciting of which, she said, was their trip to Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

Beverly enjoyed reading biographies and weekly newspapers, watching birds and animals, gardening and pruning. Most of all, she loved visiting with her grandchildren: Hana, 16, Sophie and Walker, both 12, and Jacqueline, 10.

Throughout the years, she maintained an interest in preservation issues on the island, but none was more important to her than the fate of a 100-year-old English oak that had been planted by her grandfather on the occasion of his son Clinton’s birth.

It is believed that the seedling was shipped from England and made its journey around Cape Horn before taking root in Winslow in 1902. She successfully fought to make sure the proposed development on the old property took into account the historic importance of “grandfather’s oak.”

In addition to her husband Keith of Allyn, she is survived by her aunt Bernice Beach of Largo, Fla., sisters Nancy Lowery of Bainbridge Island and Marcia Wicktom of Tacoma, Wash., brother Robert Cave of Renton, Wash., daughter Jennifer James-Wilson and son-in-law Scott Wilson of Port Townsend, Wash., their children Hana, Sophie and Walker Wilson, and son Jeffrey James of Lynnwood, Wash., his daughter Jacqueline James; nephews Bill Lowery and wife Sue of Seattle, Gregory Cave and Clinton Cave, both of Renton, niece Cynthia Kole and husband Larry of Irvine, Calif., the families of her two stepchildren Barry McConnell of Seattle and Julie Baroni of Forrest Knolls, Calif.

A private memorial service will be held in Seattle. Inurnment, at a later date, will be at Kane Cemetery on Bainbridge Island.

Remembrances may be made to the BI Historical Society Museum.