Elizabeth (Liz) Booth, aka Lizzie Berger, Liz Collins, and Liz McCulley, passed away at home with her family, on January 9, 2026 due to complications from COPD. She was 86.
Liz was born on Christmas day, 1939 to Elizabeth (Adams) Booth and Colonel James Wesley Booth in Arlington, Virginia. Her father, born in Pueblo, CO, was a lawyer and member of the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, specializing in contract law. He served one term in the Colorado House of Representatives, and worked on the Washington D.C. staff of Liz's grandfather, U.S. Senator Alva B. Adams, of Pueblo. Her mother, who also grew up in Pueblo, was the granddaughter of Alva Adams, the 5th, 10th, and 14th Governor of CO.
The Booths later divorced, and Liz's mother moved to Denver with Liz and her younger brother, Jim. Liz's mother then married Merriam Bart Berger, an executive at Colorado National Bank. This union produced another brother, W. Bart Berger of Littleton and Estabrook, CO.
After her mother changed Liz's last name to Berger, Liz attended Graland School through 7th grade, then graduated from Kent School in 1957, and attended Mills College in Oakland, CA. She returned to Denver and married Timothy Collins of Colorado Springs. This marriage produced two children, Timothy Collins, Jr. (spouse, Kirsten) of Denver and David Charles Collins (Maura) of New York, NY. Liz's second marriage, to Garry R. McCulley, produced a third son, Garry of Elizabeth, CO, before ending in divorce.
Denver was always Liz's hometown, but she lived in the Vail area in the late 60s, and in San Diego and Corte Madera, CA in the early 70s. She returned to Denver again in 1974. In her later life, Liz and her dear friend Ted Phillips traveled around the US, Africa, and the Galapagos Islands. Liz spent her final days at home under the loving care of her son Garry, his wife, Leeanne, their daughter Stephanie, and dog Bree.
Liz was a kind and loving mother, with a passion for animals of all kinds. She doted on her pets as family members ("Muzzer's Children"). She also expressed her love of animals as a Denver Dumb Friends League volunteer ambassador in public schools for many years. She loved, and was loved in return, by her many friends, family members, dogs, and (less demonstrably) her huge tropical fish.
Liz is survived by her brothers, James B. Berger and W. Bart Berger, her three sons: Tim, David, and Garry, plus eight grandchildren: Christina May (Taylor), Annabel, Zachary, and Willa Collins, Samantha Lewis (Jacob), Megan Bell (Camren), Nicole Breslin, Stephanie McCulley; and five great-grandchildren: Micah and Laney Lewis, and Michael, Ava, and Ellie Bell.
In accordance with her wishes, no services will be held, but donations in her memory may be made to the Denver Dumb Friends League or any charity that serves animals.
Liz was born on Christmas day, 1939 to Elizabeth (Adams) Booth and Colonel James Wesley Booth in Arlington, Virginia. Her father, born in Pueblo, CO, was a lawyer and member of the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, specializing in contract law. He served one term in the Colorado House of Representatives, and worked on the Washington D.C. staff of Liz's grandfather, U.S. Senator Alva B. Adams, of Pueblo. Her mother, who also grew up in Pueblo, was the granddaughter of Alva Adams, the 5th, 10th, and 14th Governor of CO.
The Booths later divorced, and Liz's mother moved to Denver with Liz and her younger brother, Jim. Liz's mother then married Merriam Bart Berger, an executive at Colorado National Bank. This union produced another brother, W. Bart Berger of Littleton and Estabrook, CO.
After her mother changed Liz's last name to Berger, Liz attended Graland School through 7th grade, then graduated from Kent School in 1957, and attended Mills College in Oakland, CA. She returned to Denver and married Timothy Collins of Colorado Springs. This marriage produced two children, Timothy Collins, Jr. (spouse, Kirsten) of Denver and David Charles Collins (Maura) of New York, NY. Liz's second marriage, to Garry R. McCulley, produced a third son, Garry of Elizabeth, CO, before ending in divorce.
Denver was always Liz's hometown, but she lived in the Vail area in the late 60s, and in San Diego and Corte Madera, CA in the early 70s. She returned to Denver again in 1974. In her later life, Liz and her dear friend Ted Phillips traveled around the US, Africa, and the Galapagos Islands. Liz spent her final days at home under the loving care of her son Garry, his wife, Leeanne, their daughter Stephanie, and dog Bree.
Liz was a kind and loving mother, with a passion for animals of all kinds. She doted on her pets as family members ("Muzzer's Children"). She also expressed her love of animals as a Denver Dumb Friends League volunteer ambassador in public schools for many years. She loved, and was loved in return, by her many friends, family members, dogs, and (less demonstrably) her huge tropical fish.
Liz is survived by her brothers, James B. Berger and W. Bart Berger, her three sons: Tim, David, and Garry, plus eight grandchildren: Christina May (Taylor), Annabel, Zachary, and Willa Collins, Samantha Lewis (Jacob), Megan Bell (Camren), Nicole Breslin, Stephanie McCulley; and five great-grandchildren: Micah and Laney Lewis, and Michael, Ava, and Ellie Bell.
In accordance with her wishes, no services will be held, but donations in her memory may be made to the Denver Dumb Friends League or any charity that serves animals.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elizabeth Booth, please visit our flower store.
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