Genevieve Arline Grover

Genevieve Arline Ely was the third and youngest child born to Raymond Ely and Millie McEndree Ely on June 24, 1929, near Deora, Colorado, and departed her earthly life on August 23, 2018, at the age of 89.

She was born in the Mallory house located at S24-T27-R49W across the county road north of her dad’s homestead in Bent County, Colorado.  Her birth was attended by her grandmother, Mary McEndree.  She lived there until age five when the family moved about three miles southeast to the family’s newly acquired farm where she grew up in the family home, a dugout until she married.

When there was a district provided school teacher available, she attended the Prairie Hill School up on the hill about a mile and a half northeast of the farmstead.  Otherwise, she and her siblings were homeschooled during terms when the school was shuttered.  Her dear friend at Prairie Hill School was a neighbor, Mary Ellen Wallace, later Tippin.  They remained life-long friends to the end; Mary Ellen passed away early this summer.

At the age of twelve, Genevieve accepted Christ as her personal Savior at the Friends Church in Las Animas, CO.  Throughout the rest of her life, she remained sincerely and completely committed to the Christian walk and her relationship with Christ was evident to all.  She joined the Springfield Friends Church in 1953 where she faithfully attended for sixty-five years.

When of junior high age, Genevieve and her sister stayed in Las Animas during the school term with Lester and Claudia McGee.  During high school, Genevieve’s parents and sister Geraldine temporarily moved to Las Animas during the war years.  Her father had served in WWI as a medic in France; when WWII broke out he was conscripted to serve at Ft. Lyon Hospital where he resided during the week.  Genevieve, her mother, and sister stayed in Las Animas with her mother’s sister, Margaret Ammann and her young daughter Rena Mae as Margaret’s husband was also serving in the war.  Since that time Genevieve always considered Rena Mae as a sister.

On June 3, 1948, she was united in marriage to Alvin Milton Grover of the Maxey-Deora community.  Soon after their marriage, they moved to the Big Rock community where they resided for 21 years.  To this marriage, three children were born: Preston L., Marsha Kathrin, and Wynona “Nonie” Bethene.

Genevieve’s entire working career was as a federal postal employee from 1965 to 1999. She loved her job and did not retire until the age of seventy.  At the age of sixty, she received an Associate’s Degree at Lamar Community College and on the same day,  she was promoted to the position of postmaster and worked until her retirement at the Pritchett, Colorado post office where she made many friends.

In 1970 Genevieve and Alvin moved to Springfield.  Genevieve resided in the home until 2016 when her health declined and she became a resident of the Springfield Hospital District Long Term Care Center.

Genevieve is known by many in Baca County; her outgoing personality and kind and caring attitude towards friends and strangers alike made her a community favorite.  She had a willing heart and a strong desire to help people.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; her son, Preston; a granddaughter, Jennifer Fae Grover; her parents Ray and Millie Ely; and her brother Vernon Ely.

Surviving are her sister Geraldine Schnabel of Walsh, Colorado; her daughters, Marsha (Kent) Willhite of Holly, Colorado; Nonie (Amado) San Agustin of McMinnville, Oregon; “another” daughter, JoAnn Thompson Gerber of Springfield, Colorado; and daughters-in-law Lynn Parton and Melinda Kurtz.  Surviving grandchildren are Gina (Jeff) Lane, Doni (Dana) Files, Amy (Mark) Wood, Cari (Earl) Brewer, Ann (Jeff) Warren, Lindsay (Tom) Huthoefer; Justin Willhite; Kurt San Agustin; Kyle San Agustin; and “another” grandson, Jonathan Manalo.  Surviving great-grandchildren are Jake Lane, Lauren Lane, Erin Wood, Josh Wood, Dalton Imboden, Ky Brandt, Haleigh Brewer, Eryn Brewer, Jonah Files, Jacob Files, David Huthoefer and Samuel Huthoefer.  A great-great-granddaughter, Piper Brandt, also survives.

As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to one of the following.

Springfield Friends Church, 157 W. 4 ^th St. Springfield, CO 81073

Southeast Colorado Hospital District, 373 E. 10 ^th Ave. Springfield, CO 81073

Sage Meal Services, MEMO: Baca County, Genevieve Grover, PO BOX 793, Rocky Ford, CO 81067.