Mary Floyd

Mary Elizabeth Floyd (Mary Beth) was born in Denver, Colorado on May 6, 1948 to Edward and Marvene Floyd. As the eldest of four girls, Mary Beth was the consummate “big sister,” watching over her siblings during their childhoods as they lived in Denver, Cheyenne, Wyoming and El Paso, Texas, before the family settled in Arvada, Colorado. She graduated from Marycrest High School in 1966, and subsequently enrolled at St. Louis University, studying English. She returned to Denver and earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Regis University and a Master of Arts in Technical Writing from the University of Colorado at Denver. Mary Beth taught English and Speech and Drama at both Central Catholic High School and St. Mary’s Academy, and traveled to Japan to teach English to Japanese children and adults. She transitioned to work as a paralegal at Holme, Roberts, and Owens in Denver, where she worked for over 25 years, retiring in 2014. She was an extraordinary writer and was incredibly well- read, fully embracing and benefiting from her English education. Mary Beth had many passions in life. She had a lifelong love of theater, directing many high school productions and performing in local community plays. She greatly enjoyed traveling the world and exploring new cultures and ideas. Her adventures took her to Japan, Ireland, England, Scotland, France, and Italy, as well as to Australia and New Zealand, where she made a point to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge and to use every form of transportation available on her journey. She loved visiting New York City and taking in shows on Broadway. She was always up for a trip to Las Vegas and enjoyed using her winnings to celebrate with her family and friends. She loved taking road trips with her partner, Constance, and her friends and family. She also developed a love of cruises and set sail to many beautiful locales, including Hawaii, Alaska, New England, Mexico, and the Caribbean. She frequently hiked the Rocky Mountains, and found solace in nature, especially in Estes Park. A lifelong baseball fan, Mary Beth could often be found rooting on the Colorado Rockies from Coors Field, especially her favorite player, Andres Galarraga, as well as closely following the St. Louis Cardinals, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Chicago Cubs. She brought endless joy and enthusiasm to her many pursuits, and her passion for learning and exploring was boundless. Mary Beth is survived by her partner, Constance Lederer, and her family, including her sisters Deborah Duffus, Ann (Ron) Nikolas, and Ellen Floyd. The joys of her life were her nieces, Molly Nikolas-Ryberg (Kevin) and Sarah (Luke) De Hoyos, as well as her grand-nephew, George Ryberg. Her life was enriched by her many close friends from across the years and across the globe, who brought her great love and immense happiness. She is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Marvene Floyd, and her niece, Katharine Nikolas. Her warm, loving, and generous spirit will be greatly missed by all who were lucky to know her, and we take comfort in knowing that she will continue watching over her loved ones and inspiring them to embrace life as she did.