Elizabeth Gail Turnbull Green was born on December 14, 1956, to parents Alan James Turnbull, Jr. and Gwendolyn Smyth Turnbull. She was raised primarily in Bowie, MD, and earned her nursing degree at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY. She then joined the Air Force, where she spent nine years as a labor and delivery nurse at multiple U.S. bases before being discharged as a Captain in 1987. She worked part-time nursing jobs while raising her children and ended her career as an Immunization Nurse for Custer County Public Health in Westcliffe, where she resided for 17 years.
She was a devoted wife and loving parent. She is survived by her husband, Daniel Paul Green, who she met in the Air Force and married in June 1980. She was an amazing mother to daughter Danielle Pedersen (Daniel) and son Matt Green (Mckenzie), and adored her role as grandmother to Marion Michael Pedersen, Charlee Mikela Green, and Piper Lucille Green. She is also survived by her father, Alan James Turnbull, Jr. of Silver Spring, MD; her sister, Judy Turnbull Guerrieri (Ed Cormier) of Annapolis, MD; brother Alan James Turnbull, III (Wendy) of Craftsbury, VT; sister-in-law Patty Green McCarty (Dave) of Greenbelt, MD; brother-in-law Mike Guerrieri of Riverdale, MD; and nieces and nephews Kelly McLaughlin, Chris McCarty, Olivia Guerrieri, Sara Guerrieri, Barbara Turnbull, and Kathryn Turnbull. She also leaves behind many cousins and friends, spread throughout the country, who will miss her beyond words.
Beth was a helper and a caretaker. Anyone who knew her would agree that these traits were essential to her nature. She was a learner. Her curiosity about the world and the people and things in it never left her. She was a musician. She played the bass, piano, and guitar and was a soulful singer.
Beth was a world-class listener, which – throughout her life – brought immeasurable comfort to her friends, family, and more than a few total strangers.
Beth was an authentic person. She was unusually free from vanity. Beth saw the good in everyone. She lived her values by treating everyone the way she wanted to be treated. She was immensely generous with her time, her money, her attention, and her love. She was kind.
Beth was a spiritual person. She worked hard to cultivate a healthy mind and a contented soul. She lived in gratitude until the very end.
Beth was an engaged citizen. She was a proud Democrat. She was a feminist. She was an advocate for the marginalized and cared deeply about equality and lifting up those with the least.
She loved to read, and she loved music. She loved food of all kinds, especially sharing food with others. She loved watching football. She loved to travel. She loved to play games. She loved camping and the outdoors, especially the mountains.
In February 2023, Beth was diagnosed with myxofibrosarcoma, a rare and aggressive soft-tissue cancer. She endured multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation at UCHealth Anschutz Cancer Center. It gave her an additional two years of life, during which she created many happy memories with family and friends. In October 2024, she decided to forgo further treatments when they were no longer effective against the spreading cancer. She died on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at her Westcliffe, CO, home with husband Dan holding her hand. She was 68 years old, far too young to leave us. The world is a better place because she was here. She will be profoundly missed.
Her memorial service will take place on June 30, 2025, in Westcliffe. Details will be forthcoming later. In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of the following organizations in Beth’s name: Sarcoma Foundation of America, World Central Kitchen, or Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.