Bettie C. Ellen Wilcox

Bettie Culbertson Wilcox, age 93, passed away on January 18, after a short illness. Bettie, a lifelong Fort Collins resident, was born on February 3, 1921, to Walter and Lulu Anna Culbertson. On December 23, 1940, she married Donald Franklin Hervey, who passed away on May 19, 1974. Their children are Vesta Dianne Harper (Jim), Tim Hervey (Sharon), and Elizabeth (Betsi) Hervey Stephen. Surviving grandchildren are: Anne Miller, Erin Harper, Tiffany Foyle, Shane Hervey, and Anne Malkoff; and five great-grandchildren: Luke and Alexander Miller, Bear Foyle, and Alula and Sadie Brock. Grandaughter Danielle Dawn (Dee Dee) Harper pre-deceased Bettie.

On January 6, 1979 Bettie married Arthur T. Wilcox, who passed away on November 23, 2005. She is survived by: step-children, Richard Wilcox (Cindy) and Lynita Buschhoff (Fred); step-grandchildren, Sandy Goodin and Ben Wilcox; and step-great-grandchildren, Alexandria and Addison Wilcox.

Bettie and Art traveled widely and particularly enjoyed sharing the National Parks with their grandchildren.

Bettie was employed as the Fort Collins Welcome Wagon Hostess in the 1970s and welcomed hundreds of new residents to the city that she loved and knew so well. She spoke fondly of skating on City Park Lake in the winter and swimming there in the summer. She attended all local schools: Harris Elementary, Lincoln Junior High, Fort Collins High School and Colorado A&M College—now CSU.

Bettie devoted her life to her family and volunteering in the community. One of her greatest accomplishments was the establishment of the Belle Bonfils Blood Bank on the CSU campus when her granddaughter, Dee Dee, was diagnosed with leukemia. Bettie was the first chairperson of the Blood Donors Group of the CSU Women’s Association in 1968 and she also served as President of the CSU Women’s Association in 1967-1968.

She also volunteered with the Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, served as PTA President, taught Sunday school, was on the United Way board, the City Election board, served Meals on Wheels and volunteered at the State Welcome Center. She was a PEO member and greatly enjoyed her time with her quilting group.

Music was a large part of Bettie’s life. Some of her happiest moments were spent at the piano. She played the bass fiddle and was in an all girls orchestra in high school. She also tried her hand at the organ and the dulcimer. She was an active member of the Symphony Guild and loved attending and supporting the Fort Collins Symphony.

A memorial service honoring Bettie’s life and accomplishments will be held on Saturday, January 31, at 2 p.m. at Allnutt Chapel, 650 West Drake Road, Fort Collins. Those wishing to make memorial gifts can contribute to Ensight Skills Center, 3307 South College Avenue, Suite 108, Fort Collins, 80525 or the Friends of the Symphony, P.O. Box 1515, Fort Collins, 80522.