Reporter-News Archives

Tuesday, March 13, 2001

Residents remember Colorado City woman

By Ken Ellsworth
Reporter-News Staff Writer

The death of Elizabeth Elliott on Monday in Colorado City brought to a close
one of the longest running love stories in the Big Country.

She was 101. Her husband, L.B. “Lewis” Elliott died just over a month ago at
the age of 103. The couple had been married 81 years. Their devotion to each
other and their community was a local legend.

“They were always loving toward each other and loving and supportive of their
children, too,” recalled their daughter, Frances Godwin, also of Colorado
City.

The Elliotts lived together until 1999, when Mrs. Elliott moved to Valley View
Lodge. Mr. Elliott visited her daily until his death, despite the fact that
she was hard of hearing and did not communicate very much.

“He would hold her hand and say, ‘I love you,’” Godwin said.

Friends say Mrs. Elliott was active in the affairs of her family, community
and church well into her 90s.

“She was jovial and always loved to be in the middle of it, whether it was her
family or other things going on around her,” said Robert Brookshear, president
of Mitchell County Abstract Co., which was formerly owned by Mr. Elliott. “She
wanted to help people and do things for them. She did so many things.”

Mrs. Elliott was known for her participation in civic clubs. She was a past
matron of the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and organized the
first local chapter of the Order of the Rainbow for girls.

She was a president of the local American Legion Auxiliary in Sweetwater and
counselor at Girls State. She was a life member of the Texas Federation of
Women’s Clubs, a past secretary of the Mitchell County Historical Commission
and was a life member of the Texas Poetry Society. She volunteered with the
Camp Fire Girls, was a past queen of the Daughters of the Nile and a former
president of the Social Order of the Beauceants.

“She was a very lovely lady,” said long-time family friend Mike Burt. “And she
was always well informed.”

Mr. and Mrs. Elliott met when they were students at Loraine High School.

“They were definitely meant for each other,” Colorado City Mayor Jim Baum
said. “And she was one of the most cheerful souls you’ve ever seen.”

Mrs. Elliott once told a reporter that the secret to her long marriage to Mr.
Elliott was that they “let each other live their own life.”

Mrs. Elliott is survived by three of her five daughters, 11 grandchildren, 24
great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Kiker-Seale Funeral Home, 338 Locust
Street.

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