Margaret Elizabeth Brotherton

Margaret Elizabeth "Betty" Garmany Brotherton was born August 4th, 1924, in Middlehope, Ulster County, New York, as the third child of William Perry and Margaret Elizabeth Betts Garmany. She was descended from a 400-year old line of Puritan Founding Fathers on her mother's side, and an equally distinguished Scotch-Irish Southern Pioneer line on her father's. She always claimed it gave her a dual personality. The family resided in a beautiful historic house above the Hudson River which they lost in the Great Depression. The family made a long series of moves through the South, eventually settling in Pensacola, Florida, where she met and married a dashing Navy Pilot Instructor, Henry F. Brotherton, March 20th, 1943.

Their first child, Margaret Elizabeth "Peggy" was born in 1944 while he was believed to be lost when his Naval carrier, "The Princeton" was torpedoed in the Philippine arena. He did make it back to Florida and their second child, David Henry, was born there in 1947. Henry decided to finish his college education, and they moved to his home-state of Texas where he taught for several years. Henry became the manager of Coors Experimental Barley Farm in Center, CO, where their third child, Sheri Lynn, was born in 1950. The family moved to Colorado Springs, Co in 1954, where they raised their children, which included a grand-daughter, Shalene. They retired to Penrose, CO, to be near their oldest daughter.

Betty was always independent, hardworking, a perfectionist and a "real character."

She was a homemaker, occasionally working part-time at Sears and Lee's Nursery. She was extremely talented with handwork, an excellent seamstress, doll-house and miniature maker, and a doll-crafter. She became well-known for her exquisite, counted cross-stitch and beaded pictures, some of which took her as long as 18 months to finish. She gave everything away to friends and family. She spent many years teaching people to study the Bible; and she taught her children well in all areas of her expertise.

Betty loved her flowers and garden. She spent her winters planning the garden and buying seeds, her springs raising them in her greenhouse, and her summers tending and moving the flowers. Her gardens were always beautiful showstoppers.

Betty is survived by her children: Margaret "Peggy" (John Mahan), Fruita, CO; David

H. Rose), Hawaii; and Sheri, Tunkhannock, PA.; her grandchildren:

Bruce Mahan, Shannon Mahan, Shawna Mahan, Shara (James) Ruddy, Summer (Kory) Vierra, Brandon Smith, Dusti (Chad) Wolfe, Kelsi Brotherton, Shalene (Michael) Chase, Heather (Jay) Evans

She is also survived by Eighteen great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

At her request there will be no funeral. The family will hold a memorial service later.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Margaret Elizabeth Brotherton, please visit our floral store.