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Beth Byerly

Post Independent
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
Kelley Cox Post Independent
ALL |

Beth Byerly of Glenwood Springs died in Mesa, AZ, on April 24 after a short and devastating engagement with breast cancer.

On Valentine’s Day, 2004, Beth opened High Tails Dog and Cat Outfitters, which she and her partner, Laurie Raymond, have owned and operated since. They tried to create, at High Tails, a place where the loving bond between people and their animals would be nurtured and celebrated. Over the years it evolved into a community center for animal lovers of every stripe – where rescue and shelter folks, breeders, trainers, working dog handlers, veterinarians, artists, dog sports enthusiasts, feral cat rescuers and feline fanciers got to know and appreciate each other and their animal companions.

Because Beth and Laurie had each lost partners to cancer and been nurtured on their journeys through grief by their loving pets, they saw High Tails as a medium for giving back, by nurturing the well-being of animals and the people who love them.



Before High Tails, Beth, who had a Masters Degree in International Relations from the University of Denver, incorporated its broad perspectives through teaching and by coordinating academic programs that fostered appreciation of diversity and empowerment of “non-traditional” students at both the University of Hawaii and Colorado Mountain College. Beth was passionate about everyone – human or animal – having unlimited potential to learn, grow and change. And she was always there cheering on their efforts, celebrating their victories and giving encouragement after setbacks.

An only child whose parents died many years ago, Beth was cherished by countless friends. She was preceded in death by her first partner, Alison K Adams, and her second partner, Jackie Morales. She is survived by her loving partner, Laurie; their dogs, Cha Cha and Chumley; cats Pico, Gracie and Abbie; her adopted Ohio family, the Lehmans; and her first partner, Alison’s, step mother, Jean Adams. Also, her sisters-in-law Jill Raymond of Md., and Bonnie Sykes of Va., stepchildren Dan Raymond and Lily England, step-grandchildren Michael, Josh, Mathew, Sophie and Ella, and step- great-grandchildren Madyson and Tatum. No one who knew her will ever forget her sweet smile, her wit and energy, or her boundless compassion.



A memorial celebration of her life will be held at CMC’s Spring Valley Campus, Saturday, May 22 at 3 p.m.


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