Lavora Faith (Bewley) Salas Obituary

Description: Lavora Faith (Bewley) Salas Obituary... Our Heartfelt Condolences To Her Loved Ones...

Lavora Faith (Bewley) Salas

April 19, 1937 ~ Feb. 17, 2024 (age 86)

Obituary

Lavora Faith (Bewley) Salas passed away peacefully in Tucson, AZ at Bridgewater Assisted Living and Memory Care on February 17, 2024, at the age of 86.

Lavora was born to Wilmer “Jack” Bewley and Frances Bewley on April 19th, 1937, in Vilas, CO. Raised in McClave, CO, Lavora became quite the hand and cowgirl, having been the daughter of a rancher. She grew up with and loved riding horses as well as barrel racing in county and local ranch rodeos and participating with her brothers. She was crowned the Bent County Rodeo Queen in 1953 where she competed on her favorite horse, Dusty. Lavora had many talents and played basketball in High School. She developed an appreciation for sports and was an avid viewer and participant throughout her life. She graduated from McClave High School in 1955.

Lavora and John P. Salas met in Las Animas, CO and were married in 1955. They had 5 children; Gregory Andrew Salas, Mark Gerard Salas, Matthew John Salas, Lavora Lynne Salas and Gerald Brett Salas, who passed away from SIDS at one month.

Lavora’s family resided in Las Animas and La Junta before making the move to Denver, where they raised their family. She made many life-long friends in the north Denver neighborhood that they had lived in, but she loved living in Castle Rock, CO once they had moved there in the late 1970’s. Lavora and John eventually moved to Claremore, OK, where they divorced. While residing in a country club there, Lavora took lessons and quickly became an avid golfer. She discovered a love of the game and used her natural aptitude to develop great skill.

Lavora always loved Arizona and lived in Scottsdale, Tempe and Tucson. This was one state in the union where she could golf year-round. While living in Arizona, she enjoyed golfing in lady’s groups and entered many tournaments. Most notably, she loved her lady’s group at Tempe Shalamar and Rolling Hills where she spent sunny days on the course enjoying her friendships with the ladies there. She had remarked that this was one of her fondest memories in life. Lavora was a back-to-back Arizona State 9-hole Ladies Medallion 65/66 year old division Champion in 2010 and 2011. When she wasn’t winning tournaments, she loved to golf with her sons and daughter whenever she could.

While living in Scottsdale, Lavora used her Dietary Management Degree to enjoy a long and fulfilling career as manager and director for many nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the Phoenix area. She combined her dietary knowledge with a dedication to patient care and became a unique, sought-after director. She truly enjoyed her work and knew all of the residents that she worked with by name. Lavora had an innate kindness and the ability to make those she worked with and served feel special. She was a natural caregiver, and that quality was apparent to everyone around her.

Lavora loved sports. She cheered on the Phoenix Suns and she was one of the first season ticket holders of the Arizona Diamondbacks. She hardly missed a game of the state champion Chaparral High School Firebirds men’s soccer and football seasons of the late 1990’s. She and her father, Jack Bewley, even attended a World Series game in AZ against the Yankees, which was an event that they both cherished and never forgot. She did support the Cardinals, but her loyalty was always with the Broncos. There were tough seasons, but she saw them through.

In 1988, Lavora met the love of her life Andrew Hadik-Barkoczy. The pair were inseparable and lived together until 2022 when she was in need of assistance and moved to Tucson. They shared a love of classical music, opera, family and travel.

To those who knew her, she was kind and caring, never complaining and always thankful. These are qualities that leave a legacy and Lavora will be missed by her friends and especially her family. Like her name, Lavora was unique. She was a cancer and domestic abuse survivor which developed strength in caring for others and being there.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Frances (Clark) Bewley. Also, by her brothers Herb, Oren, Turk and Bill Bewley; her youngest son Gerald Brett, and her life partner Andrew Hadik -Barkoczy. Lavora is also preceded by her very close daughter-in-law Susan Novack Salas (Greg), who passed in 2021.

Lavora is survived by her sons, Greg Salas of Tucson, AZ, Mark Salas of Fort Worth, TX, Matt (Mary) Salas of Denver, CO, and daughter Lavora Lynne Salas Baker (Jay) of Port Lavaca, TX. Grandchildren Erica Agudo, Marina (Pedro) Novack-Torres, Laura Novack, Devan (Brad) Jackson, Dustin (Pam) Salas, AJ Salas, Zachary (Rhys) Salas, Rick (Katherine) Unrein, John Unrein Darbonne, and Tiffani Unrein Duffy. Great Grandchildren Zion, Michael, Eli, Travis, Hunter, Christian, Anna, Finn, Wyatt, Isla, Nora, Madilyn, Jackson, Davyd, Rylee, Kaleb, and Maverick. Youngest brother Pete (Brenda) Bewley of Missouri. Sister-in-law Lee (Turk) Bewley of New Mexico, as well as many very special nieces and nephews.

A Graveside Service will be held on May 25, 2024 at 10AM at the Bent County-Las Animas Cemetery in Las Animas, CO, followed by a Celebration of Life Reception at Wesleyan Fellowship Church of Las Animas, located at 546 Sixth St., Las Animas, CO.

Our Family would like to thank the staff of Bridgewater Assisted Living and Memory Care of Tucson, Arizona for all of the love and care they gave to our mom, Lavora. We would also like to thank Aria Hospice Comfort Care of Tucson, Arizona for their love and support for our mom as well as our family during her final days.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lavora Faith (Bewley) Salas, please visit our floral store.

Share

Tweet

Follow SECO News on Facebook.
Subscribe to the SECO News YouTube Channel.

Click to Zoom

Obits Sponsor