Ellen (Beagle) Tomoser

Ellen L. (Beagle) Tomoser, 86, of Pueblo, Colorado passed away at Parkview Medical Center as a result of a brief illness. Ellen was born August 2, 1935 to Andrew C. and Hazel Beagle in Buffalo, New York. She attended local schools and graduated from Bennett High School in 1953. After graduation she moved to New Concord, Ohio to become a Muskingum University “Muskie” like others before her such as John H. Glenn ’43 (Astronaut/U.S. Senator) and his wife Annie Castor Glenn ’42 (Advocate for children, elderly and disabled), and after her, Jack Hanna ’69 (Naturalist/Director (emeritus) of the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium). Here Ellen studied social work courses and met her roommate, Betty, with who, she remained friends the rest of their lives. Ellen graduated with a degree in Social Work in 1957. Degree in hand, she moved to Cheektowaga, New York to begin her life’s work, to protect and help children in need at local children’s homes. While living in Cheektowaga, Ellen frequently passed Thomas Tomoser at her apartment complex. He soon invited her to dinner at the “Milky Way” restaurant, which became their favorite place to go. They were soon married in 1966 and found a home to move to in Buffalo, closer to their relatives. By April 1968, their daughter Stephanie was born. With the meat packing business being taken over by companies in Nebraska, Tom, Ellen, and new baby had to move to Omaha, Nebraska by the end of 1968, so Tom could remain gainfully employed. Early in 1969, due to divorce, Ellen chose to move her and her daughter to her sister’s home in Pueblo, Colorado. In 1970, Ellen started working for the Pueblo County Department of Social Services in the child protection department. For over 27 years her dedication to these children would include working many evenings and weekends of overtime, writing reports, actively searching, and coordinating with law enforcement agencies to locate and secure runaway children, diffusing volatile family situations to ensure safety for all involved, and to place these children in the most beneficial and safe environment possible, so they can develop into young adults who could be independent and lead their own lives. She always enjoyed working with these children with the goal of making a positive difference in their lives. In 1977 Ellen purchased a home in which her creativity would come to light. She furnished and decorated every room with the talent of an interior decorator. With the modest budget of a single parent, items were selected for quality and the greatest effect for her money. Her indoor artistry overflowed to the outdoors, which was her favorite place to be, among natures flora and fauna. Ellen planted a forest of different coniferous (evergreens) and a few deciduous (hardwoods) in aesthetically pleasing arrangements. Around and under these great trees she planted many flowers that popped with color. She welcomed and enjoyed watching the varied species of wildlife that would visit her yard every season of the year. Ellen also enjoyed playing cards, board games, puzzles, other mind games, and going to and supporting the Pueblo Zoo. Ellen also supported her daughter by attending all the games and meets in and out of town that Stephanie was involved in, which included softball, volleyball, basketball, and track from middle school through college. Ellen many times went without many things to ensure her daughter had what she needed, including 6 years of college to earn two degrees. Ellen’s life was not complete without including her furry companions for more than 40 years; in order, Morris the cat, the rest dogs, Lampi, Sibbi, Clea, Sheila, Honeybear, and the sweet almost deaf and blind Molly the beagle. Three reaching the ages of 15-16, the others, 12-14, and three of them were adopted for the humane Society in Pueblo. Ellen, at age 76, in her no-nonsense fashion, told doctors to start chemotherapy and not to wait, as they were intending to treat her Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. By doing so she remained cancer free the rest of her life. Then, at 86 she bravely chose to have her heart valve replaced. She showed great courage and strength to battle through these issues. Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew C. and Hazel (Day) Beagle, of Buffalo, NY; sister and brother-in-law, Elaine (William “Bill”) Watson; brother, Dennis Beagle, and nephew, Richard Watson. She is survived by her daughter, Stephanie Tomoser (Dale Marrinan) and his children, Monica (Alan) Chronister and Cheyenne Marrinan; sister-in-law, Patricia Beagle; nephews, James (Sandy) Watson and Eric (Kristi Sprague) Watson; nieces, Melanie Watson, Andrea (David) Warfield, Nancy (Gunter) Steinbach, Florence Wright, and Janet Beagle; grand-nieces and nephews, Billy (Whitney) Watson, Roxanne (Tommy) Billings, Scott (Cynthia) Watson, Adam (Erin) Garcia, Lance (Monica) Garcia, Erica-Kilty Warfield, Kyle Warfield, Bryan Steinbach, Stephan Steinbach, and seven great-grand nephews and nieces. Ellen found a very special family with five children to care for and provide a place to stay during the day for her two-year old daughter while she worked, all the way into college. Over the years a great friendship developed between Ellen, Donald R. and Doris Carpenter and their children formed an extended family for her daughter. From this family Ellen is preceded in death by Donald R. Carpenter, David Carpenter, and Daniel (Kristi) Carpenter. She is survived by Doris Carpenter, Don C. (Lorene) Carpenter, Lindsay and Peter, Charlotte (William “Bill”) Schwagart, Rebecca and Brian, Steven (Deborah) Carpenter, and Kyle, Jenny Reyna, Katie Williams, and Sue Even. Special thanks to Mitch and Janis Gyles, Gy and Yumi, and Glenn for years of helping with transportation, shopping, meals, and handling miscellaneous issues. It meant the world to her that you all were with her for her final day. Parkview Homecare, Case Manager Laura, PT Becky, RN Chelsea, and OT Wendy. Dr. Kari Coffey, DO for years of going the extra mile to provide superior care, and Sylvia Corral for your day-to-day care during her last month. Those wishing to honor her memory may simply plant a tree or consider a donation to the Pueblo Zoo, 3455 Nuckolls Ave. Pueblo, Co. 81005, Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center-River Campus, 5200 Nature Center Rd. Pueblo, Co. 81005, Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region Pueblo, 4600 Eagleridge Pl, Pueblo, Co. 81008, or a cause of your choice. Online condolences may be offered at www.roselawnpueblo.org. An online memorial will be created at a later date.

Ellen (Beagle) Tomoser

August 2, 1935 - June 26, 2022