STANFORD, M. Elizabeth (Roddy)

M. Elizabeth Roddy Stanford, 95, died June 3, 2007, at SunBridge Care Center, Nampa. Memorial services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, at the First Congregational Church in Nampa (55 S. Midland Blvd.), with the Rev. Dr. Douglas Yarbrough to officiate. Burial will take place at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Caldwell at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel, Nampa; 466-3545. Beth Stanford was born March 26, 1912, in Caldwell, where she attended Caldwell schools. She graduated from high school in Oklahoma, after the family moved there for a time. She attended Oklahoma College for Women and then graduated from the College of Idaho in Caldwell in 1933. Beth married Gene P. Stanford in 1935 in Caldwell, after teaching two years in St. Anthony. They moved to Weiser in 1936 where they owned Stanford's Ben Franklin Variety Store. Their three children were born and raised in Weiser, where she served as president of Lady Lions. She was a member of the Congregational Church in Nampa and Weiser, a member of the Nampa Art Guild, P.E.O. and DAR. They moved to Nampa in 1966, where they owned the AA Rental Center, Wholesale City Auto Parts, Magic Mill Store and a Shaklee business until they retired in 1988. Beth taught school at Nampa Junior High School, Marsing High School, Kuna High School and Middleton Junior High School. She taught English, Art, and Library Science and was the librarian. Gene and Beth built their cabin in McCall shortly after Gene returned from WWII. Family summers with her children were spent enjoying outdoor sports on the lake, hiking, huckleberry picking, and skiing in the winter. She loved the family gatherings every summer, watching her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren skiing and boating. Her many landscape watercolors were inspired by time spent at the cabin and other scenic impressions of Idaho from the many camping trips with Gene and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Stanford and her brother, Joe Roddy. Beth is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Rod and Jan Stanford; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Jim Dobbs, and Carma and Dan Housman; three grandsons, James Dobbs Jr. and wife, Tiffany; Tyler Stanford and wife, Miranda; and Mark Stanford; one granddaughter, Darci Dobbs Toscan and husband, Eric Toscan; four great-granddaughters, Ellie, Erin and Andie Toscan, and Amaya Stanford; and numerous nieces and nephews. Beth's positive outlook on life kept her active until the end of her life. She played cards, read, painted watercolors and oils, and was active in the social life at SunBridge Retirement Center. The family appreciates the caring atmosphere at SunBridge for making her last years enjoyable and comfortable, and wants to thank the care workers in the care center. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a favorite charity.