Beverly Ann Milligan

Beverly was born the first of six children to parents Charles and Ellen (Monson) Smith. She survived them all passing away at 89 years old from dementia. She grew up in Central City, Colorado and began work at a young age working in Ramstetters Restaurant as a dishwasher and salad girl. She also worked giving tours at the Lost Gold Mine and selling popcorn in the middle of a room filled with slot machines. She loved to find overlooked quarters and try her luck when no one was looking as she was 12 years old at the time. She graduated from Gilpin County High School as class valedictorian in 1950. She then traveled with her friend Dolores Spellman to California intending to find work, but the both missed Colorado and returned home. She found work at Denver Chicago Trucking as a clerk while living in the Green Lantern Boarding House in downtown Denver. There she met her future husband, Larry Meshefski. They married in 1954 at Immaculate Conception Cathedral after she had converted. They had one daughter together, Jeanne Rae. She loved to embroider and crochet in her Wednesday "sewing circles" with her sisters Verna, Sally and Carol. She loved her dogs (Koko, Heidi Charlie, Princess, Nana and JD) her cats (Baby and Mama) and her houseplants, tending all with loving care. She was a reader and an avid exerciser with Jack Lalane. As her daughter Jeanne grew up, Beverly became bored at home and decided to work at Target, and later Safeway, as a cashier. She prided herself on memorizing all the fruit and vegetable codes. Later she went back to school to become a medical assistant. She found she loved the learning more then the actual job. When her husband, Larry, died she quit work, traveled, cross-country skied, joined the Lakewood Senior Center, walked with her friend Meri Kish weekly, took hosts to the homebound, donated blood, and even lived in California for a few more months. She married Richard Milligan in 1985. They wintered in Texas and lived in Nederland in an RV. Eventually the bought a house in Denver. Eventually, the dementia took it's toll and she lived in a group home until her death. A celebration of life will be held on March 12 at 2:00 at the Wheat Ridge Active Adult Center: 6363 w. 35th Ave. Wheat Ridge, Colorado. To honor her love of dogs, donations acan be made to maxfund.org in her name.