Elizabeth Gregory Barnes Roberts (Betty Roberts), 64, passed away on November 18, 2003 at 2:11a.m. at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, her loss is deeply felt.
A homemaker, medical worker, secretary, volunteer, musician, singer, and published writer, Betty was born November 24, 1938 in Petersburg General Hospital, Dinwiddie Co., Virginia to Helen Gee Bailey (August 12, 1915 - June 08, 1991) and Eugene Bridgforth Barnes (October 19, 1914 - July 09, 1984). She grew up at Liberty Hall Farm, Lunenburg Co., VA, a beautiful farm near Kenbridge, VA, in a house built by her father and encircled with huge oak trees. She worked hard helping her family grow tobacco and raise cattle. There she grew tall (5’ 7") and strong with her two younger brothers, Edgar Eugene Barnes and Llewellyn Bland Barnes. She was baptized as a Baptist at Jonesboro Church, Brunswick County, VA around 1945. She married Thomas Gregory Roberts November 28, 1959 at her parent’s home, Liberty Hall Farm. They had two children, Thomas Gregory Roberts, Jr., and Gwendolyn Rose Roberts Shannon.
Betty learned to play the piano and the violin at a very young age. As a child, she played the piano for the Sunday service for many years. After her children were grown and out of the house, she joined The Yuma Chorale, led by Charles Smalley, as an alto and performed with them for several years. She toured foreign lands twice with The Chorale, savored these adventures, and looked forward to additional tours. She gave herself the time to study the piano one semester with Charles Phillips and stunned her daughter, who had always thought she played beautifully, with what a huge increase it made to her talent.
Betty Greg graduated from Kenbridge High School in 1957 with a background in college preparation. She then attended Radford College in Radford, VA for two years, with concentration in psychology. Never one to rest, Betty continued her life-long education. She earned an AA in General Studies with concentration in chemistry and Spanish from Arizona Western College in 1979 and was delighted to pose for photos with her son, who graduated from High School the same year, in their graduation gowns. Betty continued to study and earned a BA in General Studies with concentration in Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, and History from The University of Arizona in 1983. Betty continued to take classes from AWC yearly.
Betty’s first job was as a farm worker on her parent’s farm. Next, she was an office worker for a tobacco auction warehouse. Betty worked in many capacities on several Marine Corps bases during the early years of her marriage to Thomas. This ranged from knitting clothing for newborns to a 1.5 year tour as Chairman of Volunteers for the Navy Relief Society at MCAS Yuma from which she received the Navy Relief 2500 hour award. After her husband retired from the military, they became part owners of Navajo Center, an Indian jewelry store, where she worked as a bookkeeper, clerk, buyer, and salesperson. She then tuned her attention to the application of her formal education and was hired by Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC). She served YRMC as a Psychiatric Technician, Medical Unit Secretary, Psychiatric Social Worker, Medical Social Worker, Supervisor of Transportation Services, and finally, again as a Medical Unit Secretary for the emergency room where she worked quickly, calmly, and with accuracy. She retired from Yuma Regional Medical Center after 15 years. After that, she began writing intently. One of her children’s stories was published in "Joyful Child Journal.” One of her humorous growing-up stories was published in "GreenPrints ‘The Weeder’s Digest’.” Several of her recollection articles were published in The Sun. She honed her writing skills with writing classes and enjoyed meetings with the Writers of the Purple Page. As her family grew, she turned her strengths to being a fabulous Grandmother and relished in the delights of grandchildren.
Among many other activities, Betty was involved in her community in the mentoring program at Cibola High School. She was a member of the local Daughters of the American Revolution serving on the scholarship committee and as their Flag Chairman. She was a member of The Smithsonian Association, Phi Theta Kappa, and SHARE. She supported the KOFA High School music department with yearly donations. She assisted Safe House with household donations. To keep fit, she worked out at the local "Y" and practiced T’ai Chi Chih.
Her personal hobbies covered a range of interests. The family historian, she complied a huge amount of her family’s history and placed it in detailed, computerized files. An avid computer user, she was constantly learning and sharing her knowledge. She was a frequent visitor to Yuma’s Family History Center. Sewing, cross-stitch, knitting, painting, music, literature, and travel all figured prominently in her life. And, true to her farming roots, she kept a beautiful garden creating a haven teeming with local wildlife.
Betty passed away after a heroic attempt to recover from removal of a benign brain tumor on March 31, 2003. The original surgery was performed at Barrow Neurological Institute. The outlook was that she would recover fully over the course of a year. After the surgery, she went to Good Sam’s in Phoenix to begin multiple intensive therapies. From there, she progressed to Life Care Center in Yuma and, after short duration, went home where she and her husband, Thomas Gregory Roberts, were in their 4th month of home therapy. She was making excellent progress and was looking forward to the coming weekend’s visit with her daughter. She never lost her wit or sense of humor and irony during her ordeal. She expressed her love and was told she was loved over and over.
To those of you who kept her in your thoughts and prayers, we, our family, are grateful. Your phone calls, e-mails, cards, letters, and visits were a great comfort. To Barbara Gay we are especially grateful as she visited Betty almost every day after she was finally sent home. Betty’s will, advance directives, and other written instructions on her wishes after her death, put in place many years prior, were another example to her family how she always looked after them all.
She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Thomas Gregory Roberts, United States Marine Corps (USMC) retired; Her son, Thomas Gregory Roberts, Jr., of Gilbert, AZ, Tom’s wife Lonna Roberts, and Lonna’s two daughters, Kelsey Novacek and Amanda Novacek, whom Betty adored; Her daughter, Gwendolyn Rose Roberts Shannon, of Scottsdale, AZ, Gwen’s husband John Howard Shannon and their son, her much loved grandson, Ryan Gregory Shannon, to whom Betty was devoted; Her brother, Edgar Eugene Barnes, of Charlotte, NC, Ed’s wife, Veronica Jeanne Maihafer Barnes; Her brother, Llewellyn Bland Barnes, of Kenbridge, VA, Lew’s wife, Tinker Barnes; Her nieces Cheryl Eugenia Barnes, Sara Marie Barnes, Mary Rachel Barnes, and Angelica Veronica Barnes; Her nephews Michael Edgar Barnes, Andrew Benedict Barnes, and Alexander James Barnes; And her aunt, Marjorie Angela Bailey.
A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship Fund, c/o Regent, 1904 Pueblo St., Yuma, AZ 85364.
Rick L. Harvick
Rick L. Harvick, 56, passed away at the V.A Hospital in Tucson on November 20, 2003. he was born on November 20, 1947 in Altus, Oklahoma.
He attended local schools, and graduated from Burley High School, in Burley, Idaho. He also served in the army from 1969-1971. Rick was a carpenter, was very artistic and loved to do free hand drawing and woodworking. He also loved to help his family and friends.
Rick is survived by his wife, Gretchen, of the home; mother, Delma Moline, of Modesto, California; daughter, Barbara (Eddie) Rodriguez, of Burley, Idaho; brother, Richard Harvick, of Texas; sister, Sharon Wageman, of Burley Idaho; stepson, Sean (Jennifer) Lawrence, of Yuma; and Robin (Javier) Montanez, of Yuma. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, A.K. Harvick; sister, Nita Bowman; brothers Jerry Harvick, and Barry Harvick; and stepfather, Lloyd Moline.
A memorial service will be held, Friday, November 28, 2003 at 10:00am at Kammann Mortuary. Chaplain Wayne Whitaker will officiate the service. Rick’s final restingplace will be Fort Rosecrantz National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Manuel Alfonso Varela
Manuel Alfonso Varela, 55, of San Luis, Ariz., died Nov. 26, 2003, at Yuma Regional Medical Center.
Born Oct. 5, 1948, in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son., he was a farm laborer.
Services will be held in San Luis Rio Colorado, with burial to take place at the cemetery in La Grullita, Son.
Yuma Mortuary & Crematory is handling local arrangements.
Celia C. Garza
Celia C. Garza, 72, of Yuma, died Nov. 27, 2003, at her home.
Born June 22, 1931, in Cabora, Son., she had been a house- keeper.
Viewing will be 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Yuma Mortuary chapel. A funeral service will take place at 9 a.m. Wednesday, also at Yuma Mortuary chapel.
Viola P. Arcuri
Viola P. Arcuri, 81, of Yuma, died Nov. 25, 2003, at her Yuma residence.
Born Jan. 17, 1922, in Modach, Ill., she had been a homemaker.
Johnson Mortuary is handling private cremation and interment.
Rick L. Harvick
Rick L. Harvick of Yuma died Nov. 20, 2003, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Tucson at 56.
He was born Nov. 20, 1947, in Altus, Okla., and had been a construction carpenter.
A memorial service has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at Kammann Mortuary.
Kammann Mortuary is handling arrangements, including private cremation. Interment will take place at a later day at Fort Rosecrans in San Diego.
Dorothy Irene Thomas
Dorothy Irene Thomas of Yuma died Nov. 23, 2003, at home at 85.
She was born Sept. 5, 1918, in La Salle, Ill., and was a homemaker.
No services will be held. Yuma Mortuary & Crematory is handling arrangement, including cremation.
Pedro Carrillo
Pedro Carrillo of Yuma died Nov. 19, 2003, in Phoenix at 48.
He was born July 27, 1955, in Mexico and had been a farm worker.
A wake will be Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Kammann Mortuary, with a rosary at 7 p.m.
Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial will take place at Desert Lawn.
Kammann Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Ted A. Mathews
Ted A. Mathews of Yuma died at home Nov. 23, 2003, at 68.
He was born Oct. 15, 1935, in Omaha, Neb., and was a retired logistics analyst.
No services are planned in Yuma.
Kammann Mortuary is handling arrangements, including private cremation. His cremated remains will be scattered at sea.
Georgina Duncan
Winter visitor Georgina Duncan of Kelowna, Canada, died Nov. 17, 2003, in Yuma at age 77.
She was born June 10, 1926, in Scotland and was a homemaker.
A funeral service will take place 11 a.m. Saturday at Fortuna Del Oro RV Park. Sunset Vista Funeral Home, Cemetery & Crematory is handling arrangements, including cremation.
