T. Beatrice ""Buddy"" Hofmeister

Thelma Beatrice ""Buddy"" Hofmeister, 91, of Westminster, Colorado, passed away July 31, 2013 in her home. An informal viewing was held on Sunday, August 4; and her body was committed back to the earth on Monday, August 5, at Fort Logan National Cemetery, at 9:15 a.m., with her children, their families, and other loved ones in attendance. Beatrice was born in Diagonal, Iowa, to Roy E. Nickle and Mary C. (Ledgerwood) Nickle on September 23, 1921. She attended school in rural Ringgold County, Iowa, and graduated from Clearfield High School in 1938. At the age of 16 (May 1938,) she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. This decision secured her eternal destiny, and safeguarded her daily walk during the remaining 75 years of her life. Beatrice received her teaching certificate from the University of Denver and taught 1st through 8th grade in a one-room school house in rural Iowa, 1939-1942. October 9, 1942, she married George Charles Hofmeister, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. George and Bea were residents of Westminster for over 40 years, first moving to Denver from Iowa in 1960. You could take the girl out of the farm but you couldn't take the farm out of the girl. Bea loved to garden. She and George had wonderful vegetable and flower gardens. And, during harvest, she would can the bounty of her efforts and would say, ""we won't open these until the first snow flies."" Here in Colorado, they were able to do that as early as September some years. Reading and studying the Bible was her greatest desire, followed only by solving the Jumble Puzzle and winning in Dominos. She served faithfully at First Southern Baptist Church of Westminster, teaching in the Children's Department, working in the nursery, and serving in the Women's Missionary Union. Her greatest joy was her four children, their spouses, and her 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Beatrice was preceded in death by her beloved husband George Charles Hofmeister in 1999; her parents and George's parents, William and Anna Hofmeister; three sisters and their husbands, Helen Jessie and Vernon Straight, Edna Viola and Lisle Nord, Lois Alice and Lee Straight; brother-in-law Myron Smith and sister-in-law Ethel (Hofmeister) Dunaway; and nephew, Donald Dean Straight. She was also preceded in death by three children, George Thomas, John Charles, and Nancy Beth Hofmeister. Left to cherish her memory are daughters Mary Anne Rozales and husband Anthony of Westminster, CO; Georgia Maxine Franklin and husband Dean of Stigler, OK; Shirley Kay Eaves and husband Mark of Silt, CO; and son Gerald Lee Hofmeister and wife Joy of Tulsa, OK; sister-in-law Wilma Smith; grandchildren and their spouses; great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends. A memorial fund has been established at First Southern Baptist Church of Westminster in Bea's honor for missions as sharing her Lord's word was her passion. Her only resolution, if ever asked, was to strive to be a better witness for the Lord. A ""Celebration of Life"" will be held on August 24, 2013, at 2:00PM, First Southern Baptist Church, 7990 Lowell Boulevard, Westminster, Colorado. Interment at Fort Logan National Cemetery has already taken place. Please share memories of Bea and condolences with her family by signing the Guestbook below.