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Submitted: 7/10/20 • Approved: 7/10/20 • Last Updated: 7/13/20 • R1328147-G326556-S3
Nov. 29, 1942 - Mar 3, 2010
Cynthia Ann Tinnon Beshear 1942 ~ 2010 Cynthia Ann Tinnon Beshear, 67, Salt Lake City, died March 3, of Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Her husband, Sanford "Sandy" Beshear, says "this cancer is caused by years of living with someone who gives you heartburn". Cindy was born on 29 November 1942 to Thomas B. Tinnon and T. Adele King, in Vernon, TX. A 1/16th Cherokee, she was aptly named for the mother of the last war chief of the Comanches. She grew up in Mountain Home, AR, where her father practiced law and her mother owned an insurance agency. Cindy died holding Sandy's hand, surrounded by love from Carol Garner, James C. McKee, Dan Zaharias, and Judy Martin. In the days before her death she was visited by a steady flow of friends. For the last two months she received hospice care from Community Nursing Services. Sandy especially wants to thank Jennifer, Barbara, Vicki, Trish, Arlene, Jeanie, Ann, and Angela for their loving attention.
Cindy is survived by her husband, Sanford Beshear, her step daughter Bethany Beshear of Camden, AR, sister-in-law Carol Garner of PA, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins scattered across the US. Four who watched her grow up said: "Cindy was loud, brash, overpowering.... and had a heart of gold!" Sue Knight. "I will always see her not walking the halls of MHHS but conquering them with her presence and smile," Dicie McGuire. "I always liked that feisty daughter of Tom Tinnon's," Rex Balistes-mayor of Cotter, AR. "Sandy, you will never know the number of men who love Cindy, and I mean that for all the right reasons," General Grady Brown.
Cindy, a yellow dog Democrat and a friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton, was elected in 2000 to the Utah House of Representatives from District 39, Taylorsville. In 2002 Cindy stopped the Utah Public Utilities Division from being moved out of Salt Lake City. In 2001 the Legislature mandated the move, but failed to appropriate the funds. When the appropriation bill was in committee, utility interests said it was a conflict of interest for the division that looked out for rate payers and small business to be housed with the Public Service Commission at the Heber Wells Building. The building manager testified that there was no other space in the building for the Public Utilities Division. Cindy was familiar with the building and was not going to accept what was said until she made her own inspection. Cindy found the space and worked out a compromise with her friend David Ure. There is no way to calculate how much this one act will ultimately benefit the people of Utah. Cindy did not mind, but Sandy continues to be rankled that no one in the Public Utilities Division or with the Utah Rate Payers Association ever thanked her.
Cindy developed friendships on both sides of the aisle. Max Young, Democrat gave her sound advice on running for office and later gave her a key to his home in Moab. Among the senior Republicans who mentored her, were House Majority Leader David Ure, and Senator Michael Waddoups, who carried her first bill in the Senate. Cindy loved the way the various legislative agencies served the House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans, as honest brokers. This combined with the House and Senate committees meeting together makes it possible for even a female Democrat to be effective. Cindy wanted the people of Taylorsville to know how grateful she was that they let her be their State Representative for 2001-2002.
Cindy was Sandy's lover, Beth's stepmother, a loving daughter, a cousin to all, a friend to many, an enemy to few. Cindy was honored that the Mountain Home High School Class of 1961 always included her even though she spent her senior year traveling through Central and South America. She graduated from Arkansas State University earning a degree in Business Education. Governor Ann Richards named her a Yellow Rose of Texas and Governor Brereton Jones named her a Kentucky Colonel. She was a Life Member of both the American Legion and VFW Ladies Auxiliaries. At her death she was serving as president of VFW 409 Ladies Auxiliary, a position she first held in 1968, in Jonesboro, AR. She loved the DAR and researching her genealogy. As a 1992 Arkansas Traveler for Bill Clinton for President, she campaigned in 13 states. The 1977 Arkansas Girl of the Year Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, she Friendly Ventured the Chapter in Mountain Home, AR. In the 1960's Cindy was a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) participating in sit-ins and voter registration drives in Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Jonesboro. She also made parts of the Selma to Montgomery march. On 19 March 1965 at the Arkansas State Capitol cafeteria, students were gassed and then attacked by 20 Arkansas State Troopers armed with night sticks and cattle prods. Cindy was one of eight who were hospitalized.
ARUP has previously placed Cindy's name on the Celebration of Life Memorial as a super blood donor. Cindy has also given her body to the University of Utah School of Medicine. There will be a celebration of Cindy's life on Saturday, 13 March at 3 p.m., in the A-Lounge, Friendship Manor, 1320 E. 500 S., SLC. There will be a Memorial Service at 11 a.m. on May 28 in City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Cancer Aid and Research Fund, Ladies Auxiliary VFW Dept of Utah, c/o Debbie Spader, Treasurer, 921 S. West Hoytsville Rd. Coalville UT 84017.
.. Published in the Deseret News on March 12, 2010
Contributed on 7/10/20 by whiteriverwoodturning
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Record #: 1328147