Beth Rachel Lawton

Beth was born in 1937, the second of four children, in the small town of Walden, NY in the Hudson Valley. She fondly remembers plenty of outdoor playtime. When she was nine years old, the family moved to Albany where her parents sought to be closer to grandparents, extended family, and a larger Jewish community.

Beth was active in school and Jewish activities. Following high school graduation, she was selected to spend a year with a group learning and volunteering in Israel. Upon her return to the US, she attended Barnard College in NYC. Her academic career continued afterwards, earning two graduate degrees.

After college, while living first in Philadelphia and then in Buffalo, Beth married and she and Ed were the parents of three sons -- Marty, Joseph, and David. It was always a busy household and eventually everyone thrived. She was always very proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also had the good fortune of being a stepmother (and grandmother and great-grandmother) to John’s kids.

Family was an important part of Beth’s life and so was her career. She worked as a psychologist in a New York State mental hospital and later in private practice. Beth and Ed’s marriage ended in 1983 and more changes came about. Beth earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1985 from SUNY Buffalo, and in 1987 she married John. In 1988, they moved to northeast Ohio, where they bought a farmhouse set amid rolling hills. There were lots of fruit trees, vines, and a grass airstrip in the back yard for John’s toys. Beth kept up her clinical practice, joining a group in Medina. She continued to be involved in the community, and upon retirement in 2006, took part in a number of volunteer efforts. The one she loved the most was becoming a docent at the Akron Art Museum.

Marrying John and moving to the country opened up new worlds for Beth and renewed old ones. She got back into gardening and joined John in his airplane salvage business. They would drive or fly to pick up small planes which had been damaged and would bring them home to their hangar to be parted out. Beth learned to ski so she and John could enjoy that time together.

As time went by, Beth and John decided the old house, the land, and the business were too much work. They decided to move to Colorado and chose Balfour.

Beth appreciated her independence in Independent Living and in Colorado, and was pleased to be able to act as an individual with choices towards her End of Life. She lived her life trying to incorporate her Jewish heritage. She would like to include her Balfour friends in the Jewish tradition of Shiva, which is an opportunity to visit with family following the funeral.

”May Beth’s memory be for a blessing.”

Beth’s family will be available for Shiva only one day (instead of the traditional seven days) - that day being Wednesday, November 1st. All are welcome to stop by at their apartment (L- #310) between 1pm and 5pm, on Wednesday, November 1st.

Anyone desiring to make a contribution in Beth’s memory may donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation [www.michaeljfox.org] or a charity of their choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cristmortuary.com for the Lawton family.