Beverly June Geiger

Our Mom, Beverly Geiger, age 88, formerly of Arvada, died unexpectedly on March 30, 2011. She was an artist. Mom was born to Stephen and Mildred Slater in 1922 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1939, the family moved to Brownsville, Texas where mom finished high school. She was married in 1942, and her first son Steve Lessing was born in 1944. That marriage ended in divorce in 1944. Mom happened to be taking a walk at lunch time in 1946, and while out for a stroll, she met an Englishman who had landed in Brownsville aboard the yacht where he worked as a radio operator - -the same job he had during WWII for the British Merchant Marine. She married John Geiger in 1946 and they were married for 52 years until Dad passed in 1998. A daughter Julie was born in 1948, and the family decided to try living in England, Dad†™s home country. Post war England was a very challenging place to live for a girl from the US and they returned home in 1951, settling in Miami, Florida. In 1954, another son David was born. The family moved to Southern California in 1959 for Dad†™s job and then to Denver and the Arvada area in 1964. Once the family was raised and out of the house, Mom went to college, first at Red Rocks Community College and then to CU Boulder where she received her BFA in 1982 and MFA in 1987. Mom enjoyed college and made many of her lifelong friends at school. Her acrylic paintings and whimsical paper machete figures were entered in many shows and displays, and she submitted her last entry in an art show just two weeks ago. Mom was a member of the Core Art gallery for a number of years. She was interested and excited about art throughout her life and enjoyed going to local galleries and talking to the artists. In 2002, Mom went to New York City with her family and was our tour guide for both the traditional galleries, Guggenheim and MOMA, and also some very unique galleries in Chelsea. She loved the way art made her feel. It was common that when we were to hang a new painting, we†™d have to ask, †œWhich way is up?†� and she†™d say, †œNot sure, can you hold it right there and rotate it?†� You can see mom†™s art at www.beverlygeiger.com. Throughout her life Mom enjoyed her cats and dogs and could often be seen walking her standard poodles Louie and Daisy in Van Bibber park. She enjoyed the walks and the people and dogs she†™d meet along the way. Her descriptions of the people and their pets were equal in detail and emotion. Mom loved to travel. In the 1960†™s she†™d take her two youngest children and a large dog for cross- country trips in a station wagon from California to Florida and back, with Mom doing all the driving. This was before credit cards and cell phones. Since Dad always worked two full-time jobs, he didn†™t make the trips. Mom and Dad enjoyed trips together to Europe and the Greek Islands where she was able to visit the art galleries and enjoy the cultures. Mom went on a number of family trips over the last few years to Florida, Michigan and Texas and enjoyed her large extended family. Mom was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and her husband John. She is survived by her children Steve Lessing (Carolyn), Julie Williams (Dan) and David (Joyce) Geiger, 4 grandchildren and their spouses and 9 great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 14 at 3PM at the Arvada Center Ballrooms A and B followed by a reception from 4:30PM to 7PM. No need to wear black. Mom enjoyed colors! You can see her artwork at www.beverlygeiger.com. Beverly Geiger Birth: Oct 6, 1922, Kalamazoo, Michigan Death: Mar 30, 2011, Aurora, Colorado