Elizabeth Loucks

Elizabeth Owensby Loucks, 83, wife of JD Loucks passed away at the Hospice in Hamilton, MT March 24, 2011. Betty, as her friends knew her, was born in Oklahoma. When she was three, her parents packed up her five brothers and sisters and headed for Western Colorado. She graduated from Paonia High School and married JD Loucks in 1945. In 1961, they left the farm in Cedaredge, CO and moved to the Front Range of Colorado. After raising their three children, the pair moved to Hamilton MT in 1984.
In their 65 adventurous years together, Betty and JD explored the world. They traveled north into the Canadian Rockies, as far east as Myrtle Beach NC (one of Betty's favorites), across the water to Germany, and south to climbed the heights of Machu Picchu in Peru. As a published author, Betty was a member of the National League of American Pen Women. Coming from a musical family, she sang in the Women's Choral Group of Ft. Collins and the Lilies of the Valley in Hamilton. She was a licensed Real Estate Broker and Insurance Adjuster. When she moved to Montana, she had time to focus on her art work and enjoyed painting, and pen and ink drawing. She and JD came to love the many friends they found in the Bitterroot Valley. She enjoyed talking to her oldest sister, Marji, on the phone from Twin Falls, ID.
Betty was very proud of all of her children and grandchildren. The oldest son Keith, who is married to Jeannie, lives in Eckert CO. Keith's oldest son, Lee lives with his wife Karen and their son Caleb in Fort Collins CO. Daniel, Keith's younger son, lives with his wife Paula in Grand Junction CO with their three children: Zipporah, Arrow, and Annabelle Loucks. Kenneth, Betty's middle son, is married to Patrice and lives in Hamilton, MT. Their oldest daughter Karensa Pierce lives in Portland, OR with her husband Dean. Andrew, Ken's middle son, is finishing up college at the University of Montana. Ken's youngest, Danica, is attending Bowdin College in Main. Betty's youngest, Kathleen, lives with her husband, John Sandefur in Seattle, WA.
Elizabeth is preceded in death by her father James Levegie Owensby and mother Blanche Inez Banning Owensby; her brothers Harold, Herbert, and Ernest Owensby; her sister Myrtle Miller; and her baby son Jay Dee.
The Loucks family is extremely grateful to the Marcus Daly Hospice for their gentle care of Elizabeth in her final struggle with congestive heart failure. They would appreciate any gifts or memorials be sent to the hospice center at 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT 59840.