News of the unexpected death of Lizzie Hines Bescoby at her home in Mt. Baldy Village on February 28 came as a shock to her family and her legions of friends. A devoted mother and grandmother, she was ever caring, generous, and widely and deeply loved, her family shared. She was 55.

Elizabeth Anne Hines Bescoby was born at Pomona Valley Hospital on January 4, 1963 to Anne Gill Hines and Norman Patrick Hines. In 1964, the family, including newly arrived Katherine Mary, moved to Catalina Island, where her father had been appointed to administrative and teaching positions at the Catalina Island School for Boys. Her youngest sister, Sarah Beth, was born in 1966.

Following one year at Dunn School in Los Olivos, California, in 1969 the family moved to Mt. Baldy Village, where Ms. Bescoby lived for most of her life. She attended Mt. Baldy School, Pioneer Junior High and Upland High, and had recently been taking courses toward an AA degree at Citrus Community College in Glendora.

In 1986, she married James Bescoby. They had three children, Kyle, Matthew and Claire. Mr. Bescoby continues to live at and operate the Mt. Baldy Trout Pools.

She was an exceptionally creative individual, her family shared, and took on many roles, including teacher’s aide, entrepreneur and community organizer. At the time of her death she was employed at The Theatre Company in Upland, where she designed and created costume accessories for local productions. Earlier, she had served as cook at Claremont’s Square One restaurant (now Bardot). She also founded Cakes for All Occasions, and acquired and managed Margaret Catherine Jewelry. Her inventive jewelry and wedding cakes were very much in demand.

She volunteered at and was later employed by Mt. Baldy School. For many years she coordinated fundraisers, school dances (where she also served as deejay), field trips, an end-of-year weeklong junior high trip, all while also overseeing the production of the school’s annual yearbook. She was particularly loved by the seventh and eighth graders, who credited her with making their final years memorable, her family shared.

“Lizzie devoted countless hours to Mt. Baldy School, planning ambitious travel adventures, arranging and hosting special events,” said Cindy Ramstead De Bonis, longtime school board member. “Over time, her projects became much loved traditions that continue to this day.”

Ms. Bescoby was, by nature, loving and accepting, her family shared, and was often the first to reach out to anyone in need. In many ways, she was also the family anchor, who established and maintained traditions, orchestrated Christmas and birthday celebrations and family breakfasts, and always remembered birthdays and holidays with thoughtful cards and gifts. At the time of her death she was, with great joy, helping to care for her beloved first grandchild, two-year-old Zaina Alice Bescoby.

“Lizzie was a truly decent person who was guided by her heart, and was really in tune with what’s important in life—family and friends,” her cousin Eden remarked. A friend added, “What a light and love and sweetness has left this world for the next, and too, too soon.”

She leaves behind her mother Anne Gill Kellogg (Fred Seykora) of Los Osos, California; sister Katherine Mary Hines (Bryce Engstrom), of Arroyo Grande; her husband Jim Bescoby, of Mt. Baldy; children Kyle (Grace), of Cerritos; Cole Bescoby and Claire Bescoby, both of Mt. Baldy; granddaughter Zaina; stepmother Marjorie Harth Hines, of Claremont; along with aunts, uncles and cousins. Her youngest sister, Sarah Hines, died in 2005, and her father, Norm Hines, in 2016.

“Lizzie loved life, her family, her community, her countless friends, and her 55 years were largely devoted to nurturing and supporting others. She is, and will always be, sorely missed,” her family said.

A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 28 at the Mt. Baldy Trout Pools. To honor her, books to be donated to the Mt. Baldy School Library may be brought to the memorial.