Beth Dennis

Beth Dennis, 93, of Versailles, former longtime resident of St. Louis, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City.

She was born May 18, 1932 at the family home north of Excelsior, daughter of Alvin Louis and Melva (Moser) Elliott.

On November 26, 1960 at St. Nickalous Church in St. Louis, she was united in marriage to Tike J. Dennis (Panoyoti Dejannoupoulous), who preceded her in death on February 11, 2009. Beth was a 1949 graduate of Versailles High School, a 1953 graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in elementary education. She traveled to London to receive training and certification in the Montessori education method. She earned her Masters Degree from Webster College in 1971. She taught in a number of schools in the St. Louis area as well as a year in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After leaving teaching, she worked for years as a librarian in the St. Louis County Library system.

Beth loved the city of St. Louis. She appreciated the many things that the city had to offer. She enjoyed the variety of dining options, theater shows and museums that were available to her. In her personal time she greatly enjoyed reading, walking and picking up trash in her neighborhood.

After a long process toward recovery from a stroke in 1994, Beth was made aware of the Memory and Aging Project, a long term study focused on better understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease with the goal of developing effective treatments. With careful consideration, she made the decision to enroll in the study which included annual assessments and donation of her brain after her death. She also chose to donate her body to the Washington University School of Medicine.

Survivors include nieces and nephews, Nancy Forrest, Chris Elliott, Roger Elliott, Richard Elliott, Jim Elliott and Tony Elliott, and their families.

In addition to her husband, parents and three brothers John Richard, Arthur Dean and Athel Gene; she was preceded in death by a brother, James M. Elliott in 2023.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Providence Fellowship Center in Versailles.

To honor Beth’s generous donations, memorials are suggested to the Memory and Aging Project of the Washington University School of Medicine, 1 Brookings Drive St. Louis, MO 63130-9989 or contributions can be given online at giving.washu.edu