Betty Crayford Mendez of Port St. Lucie, FL passed away on July 3, 2021. She was born July 15, 1922 in DePeyster, NY. Betty was pre-deceased by her parents Forrest James Crayford and Doris Rounds Crayford. She was pre-deceased by three husbands: William A. Pressley Jr., Carmon Wilson, and Leonard Mendez. Betty is survived by her three children: Doris Loose (Frank) of Port St. Lucie, FL., William A. Pressley III (Julie) of Elizabethton, TN, and Robert R. Pressley (Mary Ann) of Frostproof, Florida. She was pre-deceased by her sisters, Carolyn Kelly of Stuart, FL, Carmen MacDonald of San Diego, CA, Ruth Mary Crayford of Rancho Mirage, CA, Helen Elizabeth Crayford of DePeyster,NY and by her brothers Rodney James Crayford of DePeyster,NY and Forrest James Crayford(Pat) of Knoxville, TN.
Betty greatly enjoyed her grandchildren: Susan Wright of Port St. Lucie, FL, Ron Burke (Becky) of Spring Grove, Illinois, Jill Shepherd (Robert) of Jensen Beach, FL, Jeanette Fox (Eric) and Donnie Pressley of Ocala, FL, Jennifer Pressley of Elizabethton, TN, William Allen Pressley IV (Sarah) of Elizabethton, TN, Marcie McIntyre (Clay) of Frostproof, FL, Clay Pressley of Frostproof, FL.
She considered herself fortunate to have so many loving great-grandchildren: Aaron Wright (Trista) of Port St. Lucie, FL, Stephanie Wright of Ft. Pierce, FL, Kara Burke of Sun Prairie, WI, Emily Burke of Spring Grove, IL, Danielle Crinigan (William) of Jensen Beach, FL, Kristin Gillette of Stuart, FL, Robert Shepherd (Paige) of Orlando, FL, Heather Shepherd of Stuart, FL, William A. Pressley V of Elizabethton, TN, Ethan Fox, Alyssa Fox, Summer Fox and Henry Fox, all of Ocala,Taylor and Clay McIntyre, both of Frostproof, FL.
Betty also spent a great deal of time with her great-great grandchildren: Kye and Londyn Wright of Ft. Pierce, FL, Liam Crinigan of Jensen Beach, Corrine and Wyatt Gillette of Stuart, FL.
Betty and Allen Pressley met in Miami, FL as graduates of Miami High School. They reared their children in Miami where Betty enjoyed part time jobs working in a book store, gift shops, and a shoe store. Her favorite job was driving a school bus in Coral Gables, FL. Following Allen’s passing, she married Carmon Wilson and they moved to Pinelake Village in Jensen Beach, FL.
After Carmon passed on, Betty married Leonard Mendez who passed on in 1991.
Betty was an active member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Stuart, FL where she served as Clerk and in the Reading Room.
At her request, there was no funeral service. However, her family and extended family shared many happy memories at a “Celebration of Life” get-together on July 10. This loving woman loved reminding everyone she met and loved that they “were on the King’s Highway and all the lights are green.” She would have celebrated her 99th birthday had she lived an additional 12 days!
Contributions may be made to First Church of Christ, Scientist, Stuart, FL
