Standing almost in stark defiance of the Elk Fire in the Bighorn Mountains, which threatened homes and properties in Tongue River Canyon above Dayton, the white cross of peace shines out of the burned timber.

With a neighbor, the white stone cross was erected by the late Father Carl Beavers of Powell who owned family property with his siblings in Tongue River Canyon. After his retirement from the priesthood, Father Beavers lived on the ranch property until his death in 2020.

Jeanette Beavers West and her brothers Carl, Jack and Jim inherited acreage in Tongue River Canyon from their parents. Carl later bought out his brothers Jack and Jim, who died within two weeks of each other in 2021.

Jeanette still owns her acreage and was evacuated from her home for 11 days by the Elk Fire.

Carl obtained the white cross from San Benito Monastery in Dayton when it closed and moved out of state. It is cemented to a big rock up the west side the mountain just above the Beavers properties, about a quarter of a mile from Jeanette’s house.

The white cross carries the one-word Latin message PAX, for peace.

“Carl wanted peace for this valley,” Jeanette said.

Heavy rain fell on the Dayton area Thursday, and snow blanketed the Bighorns higher up the mountains. Jeanette is once again back in her home and breathing a sigh of relief after the moisture. Her husband, Lou West, died in 2019. Now Jeanette is planning to move into Sheridan.