Elizabeth Carr Arnold

Elizabeth Ellen Carr Arnold (Bette), 72, passed away peacefully December 15 following a 19-month struggle with pancreatic cancer. She grew up in Leesburg, Florida, then went to college at Georgia Southern and the University of Florida, earning a degree in Elementary Education. She taught school for ten years in Tavares, Florida. She was visiting her sister Anne in Littleton, CO, when she met Ed. It was a case of love at first sight for both of them, and Bette decided to move from her home in Mt. Dora, FL, to Denver. She got a job as Marketing Director for the Cherry Creek Sporting Club which was being built in Glendale, CO. With her winning smile and Southern friendliness, she was a natural. They got engaged, and were unexpectedly married while on a trip to Greece with a group of homebuilders. The ceremony took place on the back of the ship as they were leaving the beautiful island of Santorini-truly a storybook wedding. Eventually she left the Sporting Club to join Ed in his father’s homebuilding business, where she did on-site sales. When Ed’s father retired in 1990, she and Ed started their own home-building business together (Arnold Homes), with Ed building the houses and Bette selling them. She made many life-long friends among her buyers, their contractors, and suppliers. Bette was very active with the Homebuilders Association. After completing her thesis, she was awarded the prestigious MIRM (Member Institute of Residential Marketing). She also served as the first VP and the second President of the newly formed Denver Homebuilders Foundation. Arnold Homes received many awards. Bette was most proud of their twice winning the HAP award (Homebuilders and Associated in Partnership), which is awarded annually to the builder who most demonstrates honesty and loyalty to the associate members. Bette was a good athlete, excelling at skiing, both water and alpine, tennis, and golf. She was very active in the Valley Country Club’s Women Golf Association, serving on the Board and in many positions, including, its President She was very proud of her first hole-in-one at the age of 71 on the 16th hole. She and Ed took many adventurous trips in a travel trailer, criss-crossing the US with their dog, usually a Golden Retriever, at their side. She was also an avid volunteer and dog lover, working with Freedom Service Dogs, Rescue Goldens of Arizona, and Golden Retriever Rescue, as well as Project Cure. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth Ellen Knopf Carr and Theodore Ernest Carr, both of Leesburg, Florida. She is survived by her husband Edwin Hoffman Arnold; her son by a first marriage Brett Michael Duncan; her stepson Matt Arnold, (wife Sarah) and their 3 children, Eric, Maximilian, and Miles; her stepdaughter Mimi Lynn Strauss, (husband Doug Strauss), all of Denver; her sister Anne Carr (husband David Edward Weiss) of McCall, Idaho; and brother Theodore Ernest Carr, Jr., (wife Pat), and nephew Steve Carr, all of Canton, NC. Friends are invited to attend a celebration of Bette’s life on December 22 at 4 pm at the Valley Country Club, 14601 Country Club Drive, Centennial, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Denver Hospice, 501 S. Cherry St., #700, Denver, CO 80246 or University of Colorado Hospital Foundation Cancer Care, 2400 S. Peoria St. #8, Aurora, CO 80014.