Elizabeth "Beth" Ann Gould

October 14, 1970 - January 27, 2022

Elizabeth Ann Gould was known to all her friends as Beth, Auntie Beth, or simply AB. Enjoyed by all, loved by all, and respected by all, she was born on 14 Oct 1970 in Hollywood, California, and adopted as the daughter in every respect by her parents Edwin and Darlene Gould. Always a happy child she was quick to learn, adventurous, and caring from the beginning of her life to the very end. Her father was military, so she moved around a lot, saw a lot, and experienced several cultures during childhood. She first lived in San Pedro California then Bedford MA, on to Germany then England and back to Fountain Valley California where she graduated high school with honors. An active and outgoing person she played piano, obo in orchestra, soccer for sport and was President of her Church youth group during her high school years. As she neared graduation, having had quite a few jobs in different fields in her High School years, she decided she wanted to become a teacher because of her love of children and her natural knack to relate to them and them to her. Upon graduation, she applied to only Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma Washington where she was of course accepted and graduated with honors with a degree in Education and a minor in Health. In later years she also received her Master’s degree in Library and Media applications. From the beginning she taught elementary school and loved every part; teaching, colleagues, and especially the kiddos. Respected by staff, parents and loved by the children she became an icon at North Star Elementary in Graham WA as a Library-Media Specialist, labor representative, and general source of information on many matters. Creative by nature, her insertion of Squirt (pet tortoise) into the environment was a source of delight for all students. Outside of her professional environment, she was a sailor of small yachts, camper, hiker, snowmobiler, skier, skeet shot, and regularly swam in the cold waters of Huntington Lake California where her parents owned a cabin. The cabin was certainly one of her best loved places to be and she did it all. In addition, she was a part of founding the Dockyard Derby Dames of Tacoma, a roller derby team that competed in derby bouts in the area and along the West Coast of the USA. She loved the sport and was loved and respected by those in it. Beth had a long 8-year battle with cancer that came and went until she finally died on 27 January 2022. She leaves behind a whole community of friends and colleagues, but to mention only family members it’s her parents, Ned and Darlene, brothers Tim and Ed, sister-in-law Kari, and 5 nieces and nephews Kyle, Konner, Madison, Emma and Hannah. She was loved by many and will be missed by all.