Beulah Fern Standley Maggard, age -98, passed away January 16 at the Washington County Nursing Home. She was born September 22, 1925 to Walter Cleveland and Bertha May Standley on the family farm in the Wiladel community. Beulah was the youngest of six children. She attended school in Platner, Colorado and Crystal Heights School in the Wiladel community.
Beulah was musically inclined and loved playing the piano and often times would perform with her father and other family members for dances around the community, and she and her father once played for a dance at the newly built barn on the Maggard farm. That occasion began a lifelong relationship for Beulah and her future husband, Blaine. On April 16, 1943, Beulah and Blaine were united in marriage at Sidney, Nebraska and to this union three children were born, a son LeRoy Gene, and two daughters, Laretta Elaine and Carolyn Ann. Beulah, Blaine and family made their home on the Maggard homestead farm 16 ½ miles south of Otis, Colorado. Besides raising three children and helping Blaine with the cattle and farming, Beulah drove a station wagon school bus to Cope and Arickaree schools for many years. Beulah was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Yuma, Colorado and was baptized on April 22, 1962 and took Jesus to be a partner in her life. Among many of her activities, she was a member of the Home Demonstration Club, a charter member of the Prairie Belles Club, a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and participated in many activities in Farm Bureau where Blaine was an active member. Beulah was President of the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary #8064 and served 4 years at that post. She also held several other offices during the time she was a member. She also served on the Yuma Life Care Center Advisory Board.
Later, after the children were grown, Beulah enjoyed doing ceramics and made several beautiful nativity sets and many other Christmas items that she proudly gave her children and grandchildren. She loved dancing and Beulah and Blaine were actively dancing until Blaine suffered a major stroke at age 73. Some of Beulah’s favorite lifetime memories were traveling and enjoying the beauty of our country, and her friendship with her neighbors and lady friends. Throughout her life, Beulah was blessed with being a good listener and that rewarded her with many good friends and all of her family and extended family, which were extremely close to her.
In 2003, Beulah moved from the farm south of Otis, where she and Blaine had lived together for over 55 years to Yuma to be near Blaine after he had suffered a stroke in 1997. Blaine was then a resident of the Yuma Life Care nursing home. Always a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Beulah always put her family ahead of herself. She has now gone home to continue being an angel as she was to our family all her life. Beulah, your family will recall your name with pride for many generations to come and your family and friends will forever miss your kindness and friendship. All in the community loved Beulah and she had so many friends. At the 90th birthday open house, the outpouring of affection from the many friends she had was incredible. At the same time, she gave affection, caring and giving back to her family and friends. Always there to help in times of need, Beulah had such sensitive feelings to be sure everyone she came in contact with left her presence feeling very good, whether family, friends, relatives or a new acquaintance. Beulah lived out the true meaning of love.
Beulah is preceded in death by her father and mother Walter and Bertha Standley and husband Blaine. Clifford and Jannie Standley (brother and sister-in-law) Velva and Albert Rudnik (sister and brother-in-law) Geniveve and George Church (sister and brother-in-law) Marie and Harold Rose (sister and brother-in-law) Marjorie and Junior Payne (sister and brother-in-law). Joe and Verneal Love (in-laws) Kenneth and Norma Thim (in-laws) Frank and Gwenyth Ranschler (in-law’s) Gerald and Marsolie Perry (in-law’s) Lila Ann Maggard (daughter-in-law) Laurence Johnson (son-in law) and husband to Carolyn Johnson (daughter). Those left to mourn Beulah are her son LeRoy and Nancy Maggard of Otis, daughter Laretta and husband Thomas Foy of Gilbert, Arizona and daughter Carolyn Johnson of Gilbert, Arizona, and remaining grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.