Betty Jean

Circa. 12-25-1935

Elizabeth Jean H., the eldest of two children, was born on July 6, 1930 in a maternity home in Hood River. Her parents, Howard and Hazel, lived with Howard's widowed mother (in the house pictured above) so that he could help with her registered dairy cows and milk route. From first through seventh grade Betty attended Franklin Grade School, which was just across the road at the end of their driveway. She fondly remembered sliding down the metal fire escape many times, using waxed paper to make it more slippery.

In 1943, after her father became Chief of Police, the family moved into Hood River to the house at 715 Prospect Street, where this picture was taken. On July 8, 1947, before she began her senior year, her dad died suddenly of a second heart attack, leaving Hazel alone with her two children, Betty and Dick. While her mother went to work in a grocery store to support them, Betty and her brother, who was two years younger, took on after-school jobs so that they could help by each being responsible for paying one monthly bill

After graduating in 1948, Betty attended Northwest Business College in Portland, then returned to Hood River to work for 85 cents per hour as a personal secretary for the manager of the canned goods department of Apple Growers Association.

Although, as this receipt shows, Betty's $8.00 birth fee is cheap by today's standards, she was priceless to us. The photo above of her with long, wavy hair is one of my favorites because I see my own children reflected in her. That picture, along with her story, is a gentle reminder that she was once a vulnerable teenager who went through some tough times. Because of the great person she turned out to be, she has taught us that who we become is a choice, not just an accident of circumstance. She chose to help her mom, she chose to be a good sister, she chose not to become bitter or use misfortune as an excuse for ego centricity. Elizabeth Jean grew up to be a loving mom, wife, sister, grandma, and friend who touched the lives of everyone around her in a positive way. We can honor her best by making the same positive choices in our own lives.

Circa. 1947

Grandmothers

Grammy
- Was a natural grandparent even though she had only had role models for a very short time.
- Made your favorite thing for lunch on school days and then traded you your lunchbox sandwich for it.
- Watched you every recess that you played outside in the schoolyard.
- Let you play in the flour drawer.
- Let you help her bake and roll out biscuits.
- Stood next to you and just watched you sleep when you were a baby.
- Never complained about babysitting you.
- Sewed for you.
- Called me after lunch to tell me if you said something was wrong at school.
- Read to you for hours.
- Played games with you and taught you to play Rummy.
- Always asked if it was okay to pick you up before she did it when you were a baby.
- Loved going to your school concerts, sporting events, and church celebrations.
- Has prayed for you everyday since before you were born.
- Sincerely thinks you are the brightest, best looking, most considerate grandchildren anyone could ever have.
- Wants you to be happy, loving, sincere people.


Grandma
- Was excited to become a grandparent.
- Would whisk you out of my arms when we went to visit before we ever crossed the threshold of her house.
- Kept scrapbooks of you even before scrapbooking was a popular art.
- Woke you up to change your diaper just because she couldn’t wait any longer to hold you.
- Said it was an honor to babysit you.
- Made sure Santa left stocking gifts for you at her house.
- Sincerely thought you were amazing and was awed by you.
- Made the sewing nook in her bedroom a cozy spot for you to sleep as babies and toddlers.
- Sewed your baptismal blanket and embroidered your name and the date on it.
- Gave you a nickname.
- Made you a special teddybear.
- Gave you a Christmas ornament every year and brought you little gifts from her travels.
- Told everyone how wonderful she thought you were.
- Kept pictures of you in her purse to show to people.
- Prayed for you every day.
- Wanted you to be a happy.