Elizabeth Ann Boylston

Elizabeth Ann Boylston, 82, a native of Sarasota, Fla., died July 23, 2008, in Carbondale. Services will be held Friday, Aug. 1, at 3:30 p.m. in the Snowmass Chapel, with a reception to follow.

Beth was an artist in spirit, an architect in practice and a passionate advocate of the natural environment. Born in 1926, she was educated at the Out of Door School on Siesta Key, and received her architecture degree at Stephens College in St. Louis. She practiced in Sarasota and became the first woman in Florida to be elected to the American Institute of Architects. She was also a member of the 1958 volunteer architects’ downtown Sarasota planning committee, which inaugurated a decade of infrastructure building.

She was married to Gilbert Waters, of Sarasota, from 1951 to 1982 and had three children: Christopher Waters, of Chattanooga, Tenn., Robin Waters, of Basalt, and Michael Waters, of Snowmass Village. Her daughter-in-law is Dee Waters, wife of Chris, and Sabine Gregor is Mike’s sweetheart. Her grandchildren are Jessica Waters, of Denver, and Erin, Mattie and Hannah Waters, of Chattanooga. She also befriended or rescued many furry companions, including Lena.

Beth lived in Snowmass Village since 1982, where her art and volunteer activities flourished, inspired, in her words, by the “intertwining mountains, shadows moving across them, the blue sky, clouds, storms, sunsets and rushing rivers. To be a part of it is to paint it!” She exhibited her paintings and sketches in Aspen and Snowmass Village and volunteered for the Aspen senior center, library, Thrift Shop, animal shelter, various churches and schools, and the Aspen Music Festival.

Beth was an avid skier and enjoyed fly-fishing, hiking, astronomy and traveling to exotic places. She especially enjoyed sketching on the Greek islands and hiking through Costa Rica while visiting her children there.

She was preceded in death by her brother, attorney and state representative William Boylston, whose widow is Gay Boylston, of Siesta Key. Their children are Kirk, of Las Vegas, Jill, of Gainesville, Fla., and Kim, of Branchville, N.J. Beth is also survived by her stepsister, Sally Lord, of Sarasota, stepbrother Brian Chellas, of Calgary, and cousin Carol Hudson, of Gainesville.

Beth delighted in meeting and chatting with the many friends and acquaintances she made during her 26 years in the valley. All are invited to join us in celebrating her life. She loved color and character, and would wish all to dress with expression. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pathfinders, a cancer support program, at 925-1226, or the Aspen Animal Shelter, 544-0206.