Elizabeth Rebecca Lee

Lord take back Elizabeth Rebecca Burroughs Beemer Lee, 84, who left this world the afternoon of November 18, 2021. Liz lived life large. Her friends and family will remember her ringing laughter, her strong opinions, and her stalwart spirit which served her well in life.

Elizabeth was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on January 9, 1937 to Little Raymond Burroughs of Texas and Sudie Johnson Burroughs (later Powis) of Oklahoma. She was the youngest of five girls 15 years apart in age, and survived all: Mary Ann Reed, Sudie Marie Carnes, Lucille Imogene Kelne, and Betty Lou Gibson. The wide range of ages had no effect on the closeness of the sisters. The strong-willed sisters would often meet up in Oklahoma to lunch, laugh, fight and party, all of which they enjoyed greatly. The sisters’ children, spouses and and extended family members loved these often raucous cocktail-drenched encounters as most were fun and exciting.

In her younger years, Liz moved to Oregon with her mother, then to California to attend Verdugo Hills High School where she made many friends including the Smothers brothers. She graduated high school from San Antonio Voc & Tech in Texas. She then moved back to Oklahoma City to begin her modeling career with the Ben Shaw Modeling Agency, where she was popular due to her 5 foot 8 inch height and her thick and curly titian red hair. Liz knew well how to “wear the clothes”, the clothes didn’t wear her!

While modeling, suave Navy man Bart Beemer came along and swept her off her feet, and she married November 17, 1956 at the age of 19. Three children arrived before she was 24, Bruce, Julie and Teri. After bouncing to Miami, Florida and back to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the family ended up in beautiful Littleton, Colorado where they lived for many years and raised their children. Both Liz and Bart had beautiful singing voices, and gave all their children a love of music.

Liz and Bart were the subject of an unfortunate divorce in 1971. Elizabeth’s later careers consisted of real estate sales, dental office manager, and bank teller. Liz remarried in 1979 to Lewis Blair Lee and moved to Salida, Colorado where she was the happiest in her life, but that was not to last as she was widowed in 1986 due to an untimely tragic accident. After that, Liz was stricken with wanderlust and moved back and forth between Oklahoma, Florida and Colorado. Trips to Europe and Scotland were enjoyed. She finally settled in 2008 in Pocatello, Idaho to be near her daughter.

Elizabeth is survived by her three children Bruce (Littleton, CO), Julie and husband Joel (Pocatello, ID) and Teri (Portland, OR), her granddaughter Krista and three great-grandsons Carl, Phillip and Kristopher.

Liz loved “visiting”, music, shopping for everything, and most of all pets of all kinds, which included her childhood donkey Annabelle, a skunk, an alligator, ferret Freddy, fish, hermit crabs, Mr. Lido the parakeet, Pat the Parrot, Bombi the cat, and so many dogs the author cannot count them all. Latest was her beloved Pretzel, who deserves special mention.

Special thanks to Liz’s best friend Sandy Larsen, who helped care for her in her later years. Also to Terri Scott at The Gables, Kelsey Scott and Dr. Warnock at Heritage Home Health & Hospice, who showed great compassion and gave excellent care when others failed to.

No services will be held, as Liz and her sisters agreed many years ago that there was to be “no fuss”. She wanted to remain in everyone’s memory as she was in life. Memories and condolences are appreciated under the “Tribute Wall” above.

In lieu of flowers, mom would love it if you would contribute to the Pocatello Animal Shelter’s holiday pet food drive. Information can be obtained by calling Pocatello Animal Services at 208-234-6156.