Lila S. Beeson

Lila Snyder Beeson, passed away on September 23, 2023. She was born February 24, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois to Warren (Tod) Elmore Snyder and Grace Elizabeth Gray Snyder.  The one word she used to reflect on her life is “blessed” as she had great health and a great family. Lila graduated from Senn High School in Chicago, IL, received a bachelor’s degree in music from Northwestern University (NU) in Evanston, IL in 1952, and attended Long Beach State University (Cal State Long Beach) for additional teaching credits. 

After a childhood family vacation road trip to the west as a child, Lila was determined at NU to meet a kind, gentle, tall, western, republican, protestant man who would take her out of Chicago. Lila met the love of her life Jerry Beeson in the NU Student Union.  After four different introductions, as he reminded her, she invited him to her Alpha Omicron Pi sorority dance – “I met Jerry and I knew I would marry him.”  Lila and Jerry were married, graduated, and Jerry was commissioned in the Navy on a hot and humid Chicago day, June 16, 1952.  They enjoyed nearly 54 years of marriage until Jerry’s death on March 3, 2006.

After Jerry served in the Navy in Long Beach, CA and Honolulu, HI, they moved to Boise in 1956 where Lila taught kindergarten in their home for two years until their first daughter, Sue, was born. Judy followed four years later. 

In 1967 Lila and Jerry became the third owner of a historic Warm Springs Avenue home named Granite Hall.  For 27 years Lila was the visionary for the many projects to restore the house, and decorate it in her signature Wedgewood Blue French Provincial style. She also decorated as many rooms as possible at Christmas with bows, garlands, and other colorful holiday collectibles. Many of Jerry’s office parties, house tours to raise money for charity, and New Year’s Eve Square Dance Parties for the Great Books Group were held there. In 1993 Lila designed her last house based on many of her favorite features from the Warm Springs house and included, at the time, innovative features like an open-concept kitchen/dining/entertaining space.

Lila and Jerry owned a condominium at the Brown Palace in McCall, ID where they enjoyed many happy summers. For 44 years Lila enjoyed looking at “My Lake”.

Lila will always be remembered for wearing bright red lipstick, her big laugh and robust soprano voice, insatiable curiosity and a high level of inquisitiveness, being sincere, starting United Methodist Women (UMW) luncheons with “you hoo ladies,” and willingness to organize and volunteer. 

Lila was a member of the Cathedral of the Rockies UMW & Martha Circle, UMW Nut Sale Chairperson (“The Nut Lady”), Idaho Pioneer Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization) Sisterhood Chapter AT, Assistance League of Boise, Presbyterian Couples Ark Club, Great Books Group, Women of Rotary, Grace Jordan’s Talk Group, Bridge Clubs, the Morrison Center volunteers, a Girl Scout Leader, Association of University Women, Boise History Museum Idaho History puppeteer, and performed in the chorus in Ken Hartzler’s local community productions of “The Sound of Music” and “My Fair Lady”. Lila loved the water, the wind, and “sky blue pink” sunsets, birds chirping, scrabble, jig saw puzzles, jumbles, drawing floor plans for houses, bridge, reading, plays at the Boise Little Theater, activities for 46 years at the Hillcrest Country Club, big ten college football and basketball games, and the three horse races of the Triple Crown. 

Preceding her in death was her husband Jerome F. (Jerry) Beeson, parents Tod and Grace Snyder, and brother Wes Snyder.  Lila is survived by her daughters Sue Huizinga (Jeff) of Anderson, CA; Judy Beeson of Boise, ID; grandson Andrew Gilbert (Brittany Wouden) of Beaverton, OR; and Rotary Exchange daughters Angela Morley of New Zealand and Veronique LePaige of Belgium.

A memorial service will not be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lila’s memory to Operation School Bell at Assistance League of Boise P.O. Box 140104 Boise, ID  83714 or online at https://www.assistanceleague.org/boise/donate/osb/, or The Women & Children’s Alliance 720 W Washington St Boise, ID 83702 or online at www.wcaboise.org, or a charity of your choice. The family thanks the staff of Exceptional Caregivers and St. Luke’s Hospice for Mom’s comfort and dignified passing.