Obituary-Elaine Grove Rickard

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obit-rickardElaine Grove Rickard of Pagosa Springs passed away peacefully at her home Monday Feb. 17. Born on June 19, 1928, she was the only child of Ralph and Lorene Grove of Pennsylvania. She was born and raised in North Wales, Penn. and attended Bucknell University, where she met Donald C. Rickard. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science in 1950.

She worked for the U.S.I.A as a secretary and was stationed in Rangoon Burma. In 1952, she and Donald Rickard were married in Valley Forge, Penn. Their work with the Foreign Service allowed them to live in many places such as Saipan, Pakistan, South Africa, Burma, South Korea and Washington, D.C.

They retired to Pagosa Springs in 1978, where they have lived happily for the past 35 years. She loved the outdoors and the mountains of Colorado. She enjoyed exotic cooking and loved to entertain. She was also a talented amateur artist and was passionate about music, reading and animals.

She was a spirited and remarkably adventurous woman who loved to laugh. She was deeply devoted to her family.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Donald, and her six children, Laura (Bill), Donald II (Connie), David (Carolyn), Diana, Nicolette (Peter), Jennifer (Owen), and seven grandchildren.

An open memorial service will be held at St. Patrick’s Church on Friday, Feb. 28 at 5 p.m.