Elizabeth Clare Prophet

Elizabeth Clare Prophet, New Age author and spiritual leader, passed away Thursday at her home in Bozeman, Mont., after a long battle with Alzheimer#8217;s disease. She was 70. Her family is comforted that the ordeal is over and that their mother is at peace. Mrs. Prophet founded Church Universal and Triumphant in 1975. She led the church until her retirement in 2000. At that time, she moved to Bozeman from the church#8217;s headquarters in Corwin Springs, Mont., where she had been living for the previous fourteen years. She was born Elizabeth Clare Wulf in Red Bank, N.J., in 1939. Her parents called her Betty Clare as a child. Her father, Hans, was a German immigrant who built yachts. Her mother, Frida Enkerli, was a native of Switzerland who had worked as a governess for many years in New York City. In marching band at Red Bank High School, #8220;Betty Clare#8221; played the clarinet. She loved to dance the jitterbug, water ski and swim at the Jersey shore. She graduated fourth in her high school class and received a bachelor#8217;s degree in political science from Boston University. In 1961, while living in Boston, she met Mark L. Prophet, founder of The Summit Lighthouse, a New Age spiritual group. Soon after, she moved to Washington, D.C., to help him build The Summit. In 1963, Mark and Elizabeth were married, and together they promoted what they called the teachings of the ascended masters. In 1972, they published their first co-authored book, #8220;Climb the Highest Mountain.#8221; After Mark Prophet passed away in 1973, Elizabeth founded the Church Universal and Triumphant, which she led along with the Summit Lighthouse. She gained worldwide recognition for her writing and preaching, publishing more than 50 books, including #8220;The Lost Years of Jesus,#8221; a New Age bestseller. She founded a community in California known as #8220;Camelot,#8221; and later moved to Montana on the Royal Teton Ranch in Corwin Springs, near Yellowstone National Park. This year, she her estate published #8220;Preparation for My Mission,#8221; a memoir about her early life, edited by her daughters Erin and Tatiana. Until her retirement, Mrs. Prophet rarely took time for relaxation but when she did, she loved to cook for her family, listen to classical music, go to Broadway shows and attend the opera. She even had a penchant for watching the latest Eddie Murphy film with her family and close friends. Prophet is survived by her five children, Sean Prophet, Erin Prophet, Moira Prophet Siskind, Tatiana Prophet and Seth Francis, and nine grandchildren: Christopher, Nathaniel and Laurence Prophet; Mark and Victor Reed; Chantelle and Bridgette Lewis; Elliot Prophet; and Samuel Siskind. The family would like to thank Church Universal and Triumphant, The Summit Lighthouse, and all those who contributed funds for their mother#8217;s care. They also send their appreciation to everyone who sent their mother gifts, good wishes, prayers and remembrances over the years. They would most particularly like to thank all who cared for her, especially Murray and Claude Steinman, Mary Ellen Gearty, and Elizabeth Sage. We love you, Mom, and we are so happy you are free. A public visitation will be held Wednesday from 4 pm to 8 pm at Dahl Funeral Chapel, 300 Highland Blvd. A private funeral for family and invited guests only will be held Thursday at Dahl Funeral Chapel from 10 am to 11 am, followed by a cremation vigil from 11 am to 2 pm. The following events will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bozeman: a public reception with memorial recollections will be held from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, followed by a memorial presentation and recollections from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and a meditation and sing-along from 8:30 pm to 10 pm. The funeral and other events will be available via webcast for those who are not able to attend; see information below and click on the URL of the service you wish to view. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Antahkarana International: http://www.saveaculture.org

The following shows service information and the URL necessary to watch the webcast of the services:
Visitation, Wed. 10/21, 4-8PM, Dahl Funeral Chapel, No Webcast;
Funeral for family and invited guests, Thurs. 10/22, 10-11AM, Dahl Funeral Chapel, http://www.eventbywire.com/viewevent/?id=416-179;
Cremation Vigil for family and invited guests, Thurs 10/22, 11-2PM, Dahl Funeral Chapel, http://www.eventbywire.com/viewevent/?id=767-018;
Public Reception, Thurs 10/22, 5:30 -6:30 PM, Hilton Garden Inn, http://www.eventbywire.com/viewevent/?id=805-939;
Meditation and Sing Along, Thurs, 10/22, 8:30 -10PM, Hilton Garden Inn, http://www.eventbywire.com/viewevent/?id=901-913