Elinor Louise Beaty

Elinor Louise (Jackson) (Pope) Beaty (also known as Sitter, Sis, Nana, El and Nor Nor), 93, passed away on November 17, 2018 at her home in Parker, Colorado. She was born in Rocky Ford, Colorado on August 5, 1925 to Ronald M. and Lucille (Gobin) Jackson. Elinor married Edward Eugene “Gene” Pope on May 28, 1950; he preceded her in death on March 11, 1962. Elinor and Gene had two children, Joe and Jack. Elinor married John D. “Dave” Beaty on December 14, 1969, who later adopted her sons and preceded her in death on April 4, 2007.
Elinor graduated from Rocky Ford High school and attended the University of Colorado (briefly), the University of Southern California with her life-long friend Arlene (Blotz) Fox, soon transferring together to the University of Texas where Elinor graduated with a BA in Psychology. After college, Elinor moved back to the Arkansas Valley and taught school in Manzanola for a time. It is in Manzanola that she met, and later, married Gene. Elinor’s father owned Jackson Trucking with operations in La Junta, Lamar, and Rocky Ford. Gene managed the La Junta terminal until his death at which time Elinor took over the active management of the La Junta operation. Elinor and her brother Alfred (Al) Jackson retained ownership of the business for many years. As with Elinor’s great sense of humor, she used to laugh saying that she was one of the “first lady truckers.”
Elinor and Dave, a rancher and Manzanola banker, “dated” for a number of years and married in 1969. Elinor said she was a very blessed woman to have been married to two very wonderful men. After marrying Dave, who became the “love of her life”, Elinor periodically filled in as a teller and in bookkeeping at the bank and although her allergies held her back from most of the ranching activities, she learned how to cook for and feed a bunch of hungry cowboys during branding season. Elinor and Dave enjoyed a long and healthy retirement, travelling for fun and with a major focus on family, especially spending time with their grandchildren.
Elinor loved life and people and all who knew her would remember the laughter and happiness. Well known as a Member of the LJ Friday Night Club, she lit up the room with her smile. She was an avid bridge player, loving it when she would get a “grand slam,’ but enjoying the game and the company win or lose. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and attended Calvary Chapel Parker, as well as, being active in many clubs through the years, including PEO, DAR and was still a Trustee for the William L. Gobin (her uncle) Community Center in Rocky Ford until the time of her death.
Elinor described the key to her longevity as the “Three C’s - Cocktails, Chips, and Chocolate.” She, along with husband Dave, loved a good dirty martini, the filet on the steak, Rocky Ford cantaloupe and believed Chocolate cures all. The only time one might really hear Elinor complain was when each year the “home grown” tomatoes were finished and she had to go back to “store boughts.” Ever the optimist, as her health declined in the months before her passing she told her family, “I’ve had a great and happy life, when God is ready for me, I’m ready to go.”
She is survived by sons, Joe (KC) Pope of Centennial and Dr. Jack (Patti) Pope of Parker; grandchildren, Alicia (Pope) Chickering (John), Ian Pope, Dave (Jen) Pope, Jennifer (Steve) Pope, Eric (Val) Pope; eleven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, both her husbands, Gene and Dave, her brother Al, her sister-in-law Lois (Unfug) Jackson, and one grandson, Heath Pope.
Memorial services will be held on December 14, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Peacock Memorial Chapel with Reverend Dr. M.J. Romano of the First Presbyterian Church officiating, Inurnment will follow at the Mountainview Cemetery in Manzanola. A reception will follow at the Gobin Building in Rocky Ford.
A Celebration of Life, Elinor’s Friday Night Club, will be held from 4 pm to 7 pm on Jan 12, 2019 (OK it’s a Saturday) at the Willow Creek I Clubhouse located at 8050 E. Jamison Drive, Centennial, CO 80112.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice direct or through the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made at www.Peacockfh.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.