Obituary of Mildred Elizabeth LaFever

Mildred Elizabeth LaFever, 61, of Lakewood, CO, passed away at St. Anthonys Hospital on May 11th, 2023 after a short but fierce battle with bile duct cancer that had spread to her liver.

Mildred was born on August 7, 1961 to James Nichols and Alice Taylor in Chattanooga, TN. Mildred married young which caused her to miss out on graduating high school. She didn’t let that stop her! She would later get her GED, and subsequently she would go to school and become a Phlebotomist.

At the time of her death, Mildred had been working for LabCorp for over 3 years as a Phlebotomist. For almost 10 years prior to that she worked for Quest Diagnostics in the same capacity. All of this time was spent in the Wheatridge/Lakewood area. There you would find “Betsy”(as she was called by family/friends) helping to care for people and maintain their health not only by drawing their blood but by showing them genuine care and making them smile.

Betsy was a free spirit, an adventurer, Black Belt, and avid arachnophile, with a collection of more than 50 spiders. She was always busy caring for her creatures which also included 2 Pit Bulls and a Chihuahua. Through the years her animal menagerie has been home to dogs, cats, horses, goats, lizards, snakes, turtles, rats, mice and a squirrel. She had compassion for all the Earths creatures no matter the shape/size. When she wasn’t filling her home with critters, she could be found trying to care for and brighten her children’s lives in any way she could dream. She seemed to find beauty in the things most would cast away! She will be missed greatly.

Betsy was predeceased by her grandmother Mildred Nichols, her mother Elizabeth Nichols, her daughter Leah Hankins, and her husband Russell Maxwell Jr.. She is survived by her father James Nichols , Step Mother Sue Nichols, brother Norman Nichols, son James LaFever of Lenoir City, TN, her daughter Onica “October” Maxwell also of Lakewood, CO, and her grandsons Kaleb and Karsten Hillyard.

The family appreciates everyone’s love and care! At current there will be no services. Mildred’s final wishes for her afterlife ceremony will be handled by family at a later date. Those that Mildred requested to attend will be notified by family once this small private gathering can be scheduled.