Shirley L. Garlington

Shirley Louise Hicks Garlington, 87, passed away on July 9, 2010 at her home in La Junta. Mrs. Garlington was born on Dec. 22, 1922 in Buffalo, Okla. to Elvin Palmer Hicks and Clara Mollman Hicks. She attended schools in Kansas and Colorado and graduated from La Junta High School in 1940. She completed her educational career at Brown's Business College located in La Junta in 1941.

Mrs. Garlington worked at Fox Theater in La Junta, the United States Navy Department and the La Junta School system until her retirement. She married Edward Lee Garlington, her high school sweetheart, on March 16, 1943 in Boca Raton, Fla. and enjoyed 41 years of marriage until his death in 1985. The couple returned to their hometown of La Junta where she became a devoted mother and together they raised their three sons.

Mrs. Garlington had numerous outside interests. She was an avid golfer and reader, gourmet cook, enjoyed playing in two bridge clubs and loved dancing to Big Band music. Shirley was devoted to her Denver Broncos and was a die hard John Elway fan. She was very active in P.E.O Chapter DQ for many years. She was an accomplished artist and was one of the founders of the Fine Arts League of La Junta. Mrs. Garlington traveled extensively throughout the world with friends and the Ports of Call organization.
She was admired by her peers, was always kind and never had a harsh word for anyone. She represented a significant part of our lives and the beauty of a generation of Americans who will never be repeated. This great generation from Artie Shaw to Glen Miller to Benny Goodman lived and survived the great war and paved the way for us to be the best we can be. Mrs. Garlington was a beacon and will always be the light that inspires us to take ourselves to the next level of life. She, above all, knew how to live.

Mrs. Garlington was preceded in death by her parents, brother, TJ Hicks; sister, Betty Thomas and her husband, Ed.

She is survived by her sister, June Thomas and her brother Robert (Carol) Hicks of Tuscan, AZ; sons, Edward Lee (Melody) Garlington, Jr., Robert Lea (Sue) Garlington both of La Junta; Donald Thomas (Jutta) Garlington of Foxfield; 10 grandchildren, Micheala (James) Breen of Grapevina, Texas; Brian (Brandi) Garlington of Bermuda Dunes, CA; Deseri (Jerry) Roper of Pueblo; Nathan (Amy) Garlington of Pueblo; Amanda (Greg) Parker of Boone; Luke (Stephanie) Garlington of La Junta; Christina Garlington (Robert Terry) of Denver; Fred Garlington of Denver; Ashley Garlington of Colorado Springs; Kelly (Ken) Quimby of Roaring Brook Township, Pa. and nine great-grandchildren, all of whom revered and loved her.

A memorial service in celebration of Mrs. Garlington's life will be held at the Peacock Memorial Chapel on Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 10 a.m. with Reverend Dr. M.J. Romano of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.

Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arkansas Valley Hospice, PO Box 408, La Junta, CO, 81050 direct or through funeral home.