Janet Hale Betts of Cedar Key entered the larger life on Friday, August 8, 2008 under the gentle and compassionate care of the staff of Haven Hospice in Chiefland, surrounded by the love of her husband, her children and their families. She was 94 years old. A loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was born July 24, 1914 in Cedar Key to William Henry and Ida Little Hale. She attended Cedar Key School, Gainesville High School and Florida State College for Women. After a short business career in Clearwater and with the Association of American Railroads in Washington, D.C., where she met her husband, she devoted herself to her family. She and her husband lived briefly in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Missouri and settled in suburban Washington, D.C. before returning to Cedar Key in 1977. She was an active worker in several Episcopal churches, including St. John's, Norwood, in Bethesda, MD, and Christ Church, Cedar Key, where she was baptized, confirmed and married. She was also a founding member of the Cedar Key Historical Society, which she served as treasurer for ten years. She is survived by her husband of sixty-eight years, William F. Betts of Cedar Key; her son and daughter-in-law, Charles Hale and Patricia Kady Betts of Washington, D.C.; her daughter and son-in-law, Jane Cringan and Samuel S. Ireland of Gaithersburg, MD; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Friends will be welcome to call at the family home at any time. A memorial service will be held at Christ Church, Cedar Key at noon on Saturday, August 23, 2008. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Christ Episcopal Church, Cedar Key, or Haven Hospice, Chiefland, FL. Arrangments are under the care of Knauff Funeral Home of Chiefland. |
