Blanche E. Williams

Betty died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by family on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at the age of 98. She was born in Fresno, California, February 27, 1914, to Herman Earl and Mae Pierce Norton, and the granddaughter of Charles S. and Mary Ellen Fitchpatrick Pierce, a prominent early Fresno family. Betty's birth was attended to by her uncle, Dr. Tom Sample, the husband of her Aunt Blanche Pierce Sample, another of Charles Pierce's five daughters. Her early years were spent on the family farm located in the Sunnyside area, across the road from the four room Easterby School, which she attended. The family relocated to a larger piece of land some eight miles out Kearney Blvd. where her father farmed wheat, peaches, and traded horses. Betty, in her high school days moved to her grandmother Pierce's home on North Van Ness Blvd. to be close to Fresno High. Betty delighted one and all of her wonderful recollections of her life - growing up on the farm with five brothers and a sister, the depression, World War II, and meeting her husband while attending Fresno State College.

Betty worked many years for the County Assessors offices in Stanislaus, Napa, and Fresno Counties where she became quite astute in managing the work required in transfers of property ownership and related assessment values. Her last years of working were with the State of California. Up to the time of her death Betty was regularly meeting with a group of retired state employees.

As a cancer survivor, she was the Reach for Recovery Program Coordinator of the local American Cancer Society for over 20 years. In 2001, she was honored for her long time volunteer service by the American Cancer Society. Betty was also active with the Republican Women's Club and Native Daughters of the Golden West. She was well loved by her many friends, and had a very active social life up until a few weeks before her death.

Betty will long be remembered for her extraordinary memory of the history of California, particularly Fresno and Fresno County, her ability to play endless games of word or number skills, her interest in national politics, and willingness to jump in the car for a trip to the mall or across the country. In recent years, she enjoyed extended summer vacations on the beach near Santa Barbara, her weekly Friday morning breakfasts with fellow cancer survivors thanks to rides with Patti Sorsky and others, Bible Studies with Reverend Christensen and wife June, the Theater with Shirley Sprinkle, all of Gale Gorman's special parties, and her daily time spent with Judy Bucay. Mr. Buckley was her faithful canine companion of the last 12 years. Thanks to Doris and Janet at the Wyndham who made sure he had plenty of outdoor exercise.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband, George Williams, Sr; her parents, Earl and Mae Pierce Norton; her sister, Mary Ellen Norton Griffin; brothers, Charles, Jack, Bob and Jim Norton, each survivors of World War II; and her grandson, Matt Mitchell.

She is survived by her daughter, Betsy Mitchell and her husband, Dr. Russell Mitchell; grandchildren, Mark Mitchell with USAID in Djibouti and Melissa Mitchell and spouse Vikki Jump of San Jose; son, George Williams and his wife Karen of Montecito and grandchildren, John Williams and wife Julie of Montecito, Dawn Kathleen Penkala and her husband Brad, and Bennett Williams and fiancé Blakeney Sanford, all of Santa Barbara; and daughter, Mary Sue Gaab and husband Don Gaab of Los Gatos, and grandchildren, Elizabeth Engelmann and husband Chris Engelmann, MD of Los Gatos, David Gaab and wife Brooke of Portland, Oregon; Betty is additionally survived by nine great-grandchildren and scores of nieces and nephews, including locally Dick Griffin and wife Marion, and David Griffin and wife Francie.

A Funeral Service will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a burial at Belmont Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent in Betty's name to the Reach for Recovery Program, American Cancer Society, 2222 W. Shaw, Ste. 201, Fresno, Ca. 93711