Beverly (Burford) DeBerard |
| Posted 2009-11-24 by Pat Wilson |
| Beverly Burford DeBerard, the Colorado outdoorswoman who inspired the character Babe Rawlins in writer Jack Kerouac's "On the Road", has died at 68. Mrs. DeBerard, a Denver native, was well-known in women's golf circles, in politics through her husband, former state Sen. Fay DeBerard, and in the ranching community through the couple's Kremmling cattle ranch. Mrs. DeBerard died Sept. 14, 1994 at the Bryan Extended Care Center, in Phoenix, after suffering a stroke. A memorial service was Sept. 28, 1994, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, followed by interment at the church's St. Michael's Yard. When Kerouac visited Denver in 1947, he met Mrs. DeBerard and her brother, who also turned up as a character in "On the Road", said Ed White Jr., a longtime friend of the Burford family's. "We all went up to Central City together one weekend. I lent Keroauc a suit so he could take her to the opera," said White. Kerouac described Babe Rawlins as "a tennis-playing, surf-riding doll of the West." Mrs. DeBerard graduated from East High School in 1942 and studied at Colorado College and the University of Denver. "She was one of the early skiers in Aspen in the 1940s," White said. "At that time, she and other Denver high school girls worked at the lodges, and there was only the No. 1 lift." During World War II, Mrs. DeBerard served in the Women's Auxiliary Corps, and after the war she worked in Germany with the occupation forces. Her interest in politics guided her career, which included serving as an administrative assistant in state government. In 1967, she married Sen. DeBerard. He represented northwestern Colorado for 23 years. "She loved ranching and the outdoor life," White said. "When they were at the ranch, they worked together on things. They did the nitty-gritty things connected with raising cattle." The DeBerards started raising thoroughbred horses and raced at Centennial Race Track, in Arapahoe County. After he retired from the legislature, the couple wintered in Arizona and raced their horses at the Turf Paradise track. Mrs. DeBerard is survived by her husband; a sister, Sue Crosby of Denver; two brothers, Louis W. Burford of San Jose, Calif., and Robert F. Burford of Paradise Valley, Ariz.; a stepdaughter, Marilyn Curry; and two stepsons, Fay DeBerard Jr. and Robert DeBerard. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 2369, Denver 80201. Rocky Mountain News October 1, 1994 |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?