Elinor Simson Benes, 92, passed away on July 18, 2017. Elinor graduated with a B.A. from San Jose State College in 1945 and went on to attain an M.S. at ASU in 1961. She completed a Ph.D. in 1966 at University of California, Davis. She taught in the Biology Department at California State University, Sacramento for 23 years and retired as a professor emeritus. Elinor married Norman Stanley Benes in 1945 and together they had four children. They divorced in 1971. In 1976, she married Marion Murphy. After his death in 1987, she retired to Carson City, NV and then moved to Cottonwood, AZ in 2001. She was a dedicated gardener and an active member of Master Gardeners for over 30 years. She volunteered at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and ASU Extension after retirement. Elinor is survived by a sister, four children, a niece, three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter. Memorial services will be privately held. Memorial donations may be made in Elinor's name to the Desert Tortoise Council www.deserttortoise.org or to Berea Collegewww.berea.edu/give .