Dorothy Loave Garton, 96, was born to John and Dorothy Hamilton January 17, 1926 in Cañon City, Colorado.

Loave's younger years were spent helping her dad on a small farm where he grew produce for the local stores in Cañon City and other nearby towns.

Being very athletic, she used skills honed from cabbage harvest and became the pitcher of the Cañon City High School softball team.

Her senior year she was voted the Blossom Queen for Cañon City and surrounding areas, which made the front page of the Denver Post.

Loave married her high school sweetheart, Ray Garton, in 1946. Five years later, the growing family made their journey to Pocatello, where Ray began work with Garrett Freightlines. The two were blessed to live out their union of extraordinary respect and romance for 67 years until his passing in 2013.

Ray and Loave had four children: Kathleen (Dwight) Horsch, Rod (Carol) Garton, Dave (Kari) Garton, and Sally (J. R.) Thomson. They also had 10 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren.

Loave was a wonderful seamstress. She sewed her own clothes, winter coats, her daughters' prom dresses and even her living room drapes. She also gardened and canned for most of her life.

Having a lifelong interest in health and fitness, Loave was a perfect fit as the Women's Athletic Club Director for the YMCA. There, she taught women's exercise classes and swimming lessons in the 1960s and 1970s. She participated in synchronized swimming classes at ISU, where her team held performances for the public.

Loave and Ray spent much of their time in Idaho's great outdoors. They enjoyed hunting, fishing, water skiing, cross country snow skiing and camping with family and friends.

In their early 50s, they moved into the hills southeast of Pocatello, where they built a home and barn and raised turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, a peacock, donkeys and rode their beloved horses.

She was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church, active in service and fellowship. The love of the Lord shone through Loave to her children and grandchildren.

Loave was a force of nature and an inspiration to us all.

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joy of the Lord." Matthew 25

Services will be held Friday, November 11, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.

First United Methodist Church 200 N 15th Ave B, Pocatello, ID 83201

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cornelison Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www. cornelisonfh.com

208-232-0542