Betty Lee Ducote

Betty Lee DuCote (née Adams), 86, passed away Monday, September 25th, 2017 surrounded by her loving family. Her life began in Washington, DC on March 9th, 1931. She was loved and raised by the late Harvey B. Adams and Alice L. Adams. She danced her way through Western High School and upon graduation took a job at Georgetown University. On one eventful night in November, 1951 at the Calvert Theater, where Betty had been working since she was 14, she met the love of her life, Robert Arthur DuCoté (Bob). Six months later in May,1952, they were married in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC. In March, 1953 Betty Lee DuCoté, six months pregnant with her first child and by herself, stepped on to a plane to Guam and began the amazing journey of the rest of her life. Betty and Bob traveled the world together. They were stationed in Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, Belgium and Haiti. Along the way, four children blessed their lives, Michele, Janine, Renee and Robert, Jr. No matter, where the DuCote’s lived, Betty made it a home. Her favorite saying was, “Wherever we are together is home!” In each place she lived, Betty opened her heart and home to family and friends. There was always was room for one more at her table. Betty was a talented, artistic and creative woman. Over the years she studied Ikebana, Sumi-é, French Cooking, Smocking, Needlepoint and Bonsai. She also loved playing cards and taught all her children and grandchildren how to play Poker, Hearts, Spades and Canasta. Additionally, she loved cats, especially Siamese Cats. For most of her adult life, one or more Siamese cats found their way into her heart. Although more recently, she had found joy in adopting abandoned cats, having two at home now, Gracie and Sunny. During her children’s high school years, Betty got her real estate license and became a successful Realtor. She sold, listed and managed real estate until her youngest son graduated high school. She and Bob then packed up and headed to Brussels, Belgium and then on to Haiti. After Bob retired, they relocated to Williamsburg, VA. They also continued to travel. They visited China, took a cruise, and visited various beach towns up and down the East Coast. Betty loved the beach and passed that love on to her children and grandchildren. But most of all, Betty loved her family and they loved her right back. Her four children all married and had grandchildren. Betty’s life will be remembered and cherished by her husband of 65 years, Robert DuCoté, Sr.; her daughters, Michèle DuCoté (J.D. Maynard) of Norfolk, VA, Janine Greenfield (Clay) of Marietta, GA, Renee Plum of Baltimore, MD and her son, Robert DuCoté, Jr of Williamsburg, VA. She will be lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Robyn Long (Jared), Jillian Maynard, Christopher Plum (Kieran), Jamie Greenfield, Courtney Peterson (Todd) Benjamin Plum (Beka), Michael Greenfield, Loren Plum (Kylah) and Doug DuCoté (Nikki). Her life and memory will be shared with her great-grandchildren, Summer Greenfield, Colin Plum, Cora Plum, Cadence Plum and Caeli Plum. Her brother-in-law, Stephen Keith, who could always make her laugh, and his wife, Kathie as well as her two nephews, Stephen Keith (Melissa) and their children of Fredericksburg, VA and Christopher Keith of Belleview, FL will also cherish her life and memory. A private celebration of life will occur on November 11th, 2017. In lieu of cards and flowers, donations in Betty’s name may be made to the Heritage Humane Society, Williamsburg, VA.