Elisabeth Pendley was born in Pennsylvania, received a B.A. at Mary Washington College in Virginia, and her J.D. degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law. She taught elementary school children in Maryland, Florida and North Carolina. She practiced law in a United States government agency, a private corporate company, and the Pendley Law Firm. Living in the Rocky Mountain west, she and her husband of 51 years raised their sons: one, a Lt. Col. in the United States Marine Corps who is happily married to a charming veterinarian and busy raising her five grandchildren. The other son recently graduated from the police academy and works in security. Currently, Lis works pro bono with Christian outreach nonprofits, practices law, feeds elk with perennials from her garden, and hikes with her dog.