Betty June Nixon

Betty had two brothers, Harold and Jack and three sisters, Mary, Shirley and Sarah. Throughout her life, when those sisters got together, there was lots of laughing; one might even call it “cackling”. They were a very happy bunch. Betty was a middle child and she enjoyed her position in the family.

She came to California with her family in 1937, settling in Wasco, California. She married Everett Harrison in 1946. They had one child, Mary Evelyn in 1947. In 1959, Everett and Betty moved to Ventura. Their first little home was on Lewis Street in the Ventura Avenue area. From there, they moved to a home on Church Street. In 1964, they moved to Maryville Avenue where she resided until her death.

Betty worked for Dave Gray, CPA for a few years and then for James Basso who owned the Coors Beer Distributing Company. She worked for “Mr. B” as he was called, for over 25 years.

She was an avid square dancer for quite a number of years. Betty was also very involved in her church, College United Methodist and spent hundreds of hours in her devotion to the children that have passed through its doors. She was a kind, generous person. Smiles came easy to Betty. She was a naturally happy soul. Betty was a dedicated, loyal friend to many who passed through her life. She was a hard worker but preferred to be “behind the scenes” rather than a “take credit” or “spotlight position” kind of person. Betty always had a kind word for anyone around her. She loved to sing, although she was never offered a position in the choir “Ha”.

Betty could be quite silly and her close friends loved that part of her. She loved to crochet and made hundreds of afghans over the years, many of which she donated to the Pregnancy Center here in Ventura. Betty’s first husband, Everett, loved raising Dahlias and entering them in the Ventura County Fair. She was his number one assistant. It was her job to put tags on each entry and he entered a lot of flowers!! Betty tagged so many of the entries that her fingers would go numb!

After Everett died in 2005, Betty was single for a number of years. In 2009, she married for the second time. She married her brother-in-law, Robert (Bob) Nixon. Bob and Betty enjoyed six years together before COPD took her life. Bob was as silly and happy as Betty. They would wake each other up in the mornings by singing (both off key of course) to each other. After a few years of being single, Bob was the flaky, goofy, smiling person Betty needed to enjoy the remainder of her life with, and she did.

Betty was an amazing, awesome mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend. She passed her happy, smiling way of taking on life to each and every one of us and we will be forever grateful for that. Betty will be missed each and every day.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Gene Nixon; daughter, Mary Evelyn Barnes; grandchildren, Amy Beth Barnes, Brandon Allen Barnes and his wife, Caitlin Gracey Barnes; great grandchildren, Ilsa Mary Andes Barnes (8) and Brynn Gracey Barnes (16 months old); as well as numerous nieces and nephews who were all cherished by Betty.

A memorial service will take place on Thursday, August 6, 2015, 11:00am, at College United Methodist Church, 4300 Telegraph Road, Ventura.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity…she would like that.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com