Mary Ellen Beauvais

The matriarch of the Beauvais family, Mary Ellen Beauvais, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, August 5, and thus came a quiet end to a big, boisterous, prolific, and eventful 89-year life.

Born Mary Ellen Talbow, on March 2nd, 1936, in Cheyenne Wyoming, and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, she was the third of 8 siblings, and the oldest daughter. The birth of her two youngest siblings resulted in lengthy hospital stays for her mother, twice sending Mary Ellen and the other Talbow children to an orphanage for months at a time. When her father died suddenly and unexpectedly in June of 1945, her mother was forced to take on full-time employment, and Mary Ellen became the primary care giver and tenacious defender of her 5 younger siblings. It was from this rough and tumble time as an enforcer that she would eventually earn the nickname, "Scrappy". If you messed with her brothers or sisters - look out, because she was coming after you!

During her high-school years at Pueblo Centennial and Pueblo Catholic High School, Mary Ellen met her high-school and life-long sweetheart, Edward R. Beauvais. He was captain of the football team and a baseball star, and she was, in his words, "a fox." The two were married on August 24th, 1957, and started an epic life together as Edward and Mary Ellen Beauvais. Ed began a career in the airline industry. They had 5 children in 7 years and moved six times to six different cities in different states, finally settling in Burlingame, California in 1968. There they raised their children, and Ed started the first of many companies he would create. With four boys and one girl, Ed became Coach Beauvais, racking up multiple championships, and Mary Ellen became the official scorekeeper, cheerleader, practice shuttle-driver, field-trip chaperone, school play costumer, and PTA President. She was the supermom who was always at everything. It was a magical time as they raised their children from pre-school to college.

In 1979, Ed's plans and ambitions pointed toward Phoenix, and Mary Ellen packed up and moved the Beauvais Family back to Arizona. With her support, what started out in the 2208 East Missouri Avenue Pool House office as "Project White Eagle" soon became America West Airlines. On August 1st, 1983, the "family airline" began commercial air service out of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Mary Ellen donated her time and talents to the airline, designing office and public spaces, overseeing construction of the airport Phoenix Club VIP lounges, and helping to relocate and house airline executives and employees in the Valley of the Sun. She became not just the matriarch of the Beauvais Family, but the matriarch of America West Airlines. She was, in many ways, the wind beneath its wings. Her love for her children, for her siblings, for her extended family, for AWA employees, and for the people of Phoenix was boundless, as she championed causes and supported local charities. But nothing could match the love and devotion she had for her soulmate, Ed Beauvais. Their marriage lasted 64 years until she lost Ed on September 28th, 2021.

Their love affair never ended. Since Ed's passing, Mary Ellen struggled with grief, busied herself with historical documentation of her husband's accomplishments, and traveled as much as she could to attend her grandchildren's concerts, games, performances, and events. She doted on her great grandchildren and basked in the love of her family. A heart attack in March of 2023 slowed Mary Ellen down, but her recovery surprised and impressed her doctors. Knee injuries and surgeries made getting around a struggle, but she persevered and fought through them.

Finally, after a magical long weekend with her children and grandchildren on Big Bear Lake in California, Mary Ellen rode home to Scottsdale on August 4th, went to bed happy, and never woke up. She has reunited with her beloved sweetheart, Eddie.

She is preceded in death by her husband Ed Beauvais; her parents Edward and Florence Joy Talbow; and six siblings, William, Leonard, Evelyn Joy, Charles, Jerome and Joan Talbow.

She will be sorely missed and is survived by her brother Ed Talbow; her sons Mark, Matthew, Paul, John, and daughter Catherine Beauvais; her grandchildren Maximilian, Daniel, Lauren, Luke, Gabrielle, and Brodie Beauvais, and Nicole Luther; and her great grandchildren Mila, Weston, and Remington Beauvais, and Josie Beaux Luther.

A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of the Angels Church at "the Casa" Franciscan Renewal Center on Saturday, September 13th, at 10:30 AM: 5802 E Lincoln Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85253. In lieu of flower, please make a donation to The Muscular Dystrophy Association (https://www.mda.org/).