Beth Callaway

Family-Placed Death Notice

CALLAWAY, Beth Laura Elizabeth "Beth" Walton Callaway died peacefully on Tuesday, December 8, 2009, surrounded by her family at Spring Harbor Assisted Living in Columbus, GA. Mrs. Callaway, daughter of Ralph Outlaw and Octavia Perry Walton, was born in Hamilton, GA, on January 18, 1926. A sixth generation Georgian and a fifth generation Harris County native, Mrs. Callaway lived in many places during her lifetime but always loved her Harris County heritage. She was educated in the Harris County School System, where she met Howard H. "Bo" Callaway in the sixth grade at Hamilton Grade School. She graduated from Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, GA, in 1947, and married Mr. Callaway on June 11, 1949. They lived in Colorado from 1976 until 1997. The Callaways owned Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado from 1970 until 2004. Mrs. Callaway was active in her husband's 1980 campaign for the U.S. Senate. In 1979, she received a Masters of Science in Botany from Western State College in Gunnison, CO. She is survived by her husband and their five children; Elizabeth Callaway Considine of Denver, CO; Howard H. Callaway Jr. of Bristol, VA; Edward C. Callaway of Hamilton, GA; Virginia Callaway Martin of Toronto, Canada; and Ralph W. Callaway of Columbus, GA; 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She also is survived by her brother Ralph Outlaw Walton Jr. and family. Wildflowers and photography were among Mrs. Callaway's interests. For many years, she was a founding member and served on the Board of Visitors for the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation; Board of the National Arboretum in Washington DC; and was a founding member of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, TX. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, December 11, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. A funeral mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 12, 2009, at Christ the King Catholic Church, Pine Mountain, GA, with Father John A. Madden officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions to the Beth Callaway Wildflower Fund, c/o Callaway Gardens, P.O. Box 2000, Pine Mountain, GA 31822, which has been established in Mrs. Callaway's memory at Callaway Gardens. In celebration of Mrs. Callaway's life, a memorial organ concert will be 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel at Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA. Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA, 30240 (706) 884-8636, www.striffler-hamby.com.