Elizabeth Almaide Badgett

Elizabeth "Betty" Lamoureux Malone Badgett

August 27, 1931 - April 29, 2020

It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of our mom, Betty Badgett. Mom passed away peacefully at her home of 55 years in Fountain Valley, CA with her youngest daughter and devoted caregiver Traci Malone, at her side. Just a few months shy of her 89th birthday, she was blessed to live a long, active, and full life until becoming increasingly frail over the last year or so. She was devoted to her children, their spouses, her grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and had close personal relationships with all of them.

Mom was born in North Dakota and spent her early years there, but Southern California was her lifelong home and where her heart was. After her mother's death when she was just 14, her dad decided to send Betty and her brother Jay "out west" to live with his sister, Aunt Alice. Post WW II Los Angeles was in its' Golden Age, and that young teenage girl from North Dakota never looked back. She attended St. Agnes High School in Los Angeles where she met the love of her life, Tom "TJ" Malone. They married young, made their home near Aunt Alice in Westchester, and had four children in rapid succession. Sadly, the marriage did not survive, but Betty and Tom remained close until his untimely passing in 1993. In 1965, during a brief second marriage, the family moved to Fountain Valley, into what would become the family home where Betty spent the rest of her life. It was shortly after this move that her last child, son Adam, was born.

Mom was happiest in the company of her family and looked forward to our annual reunions in Lake Tahoe. This tradition went on for many years as the grand kids were growing up, and wonderful memories were made during these times. Besides being with all her family, these vacations included her favorite activities - gambling at the casinos, playing card games and Scrabble, and watching scary movies. In 2017, the entire family was together in Lake Tahoe once again as we introduced the great grand kids to this tradition. Last May, mom was able to make a trip to New Orleans to join some of the family in celebration of granddaughter Ali's college graduation. Betty loved Bourbon Street, and the musicians of Bourbon Street loved her!

Betty worked her entire adult life, in the aircraft industry in Los Angeles, and then for many years at Levitz Furniture after moving to Fountain Valley. She was delighted to be able to retire in 1996, and thoroughly enjoyed having the time to watch Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, master playing Pinochle and Solitaire on her tablet, follow her beloved Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, and most importantly, spend more time with her family. To celebrate her retirement, she made a memorable 6,500-mile road trip with daughter Kathy and grandkids Stephanie and Brad back to her hometown of Dunseith North Dakota. Daughter Traci joined them there, and in spite of having been gone for 50 years, the locals immediately recognized "Betty Mae Lamoureux" and her beautiful smile.

Betty was predeceased by her second son Terry Malone (1957-2007), and is survived by her children Kathryn Dean (Rod) of Santa Rosa CA, Tom Malone (Linda) of Sandy, OR, Traci Malone (Mike) of Fountain Valley CA, and Adam Badgett (Donna) of Redwood City CA. In addition, she is survived by grandchildren T.D., Stephanie, Molly, Brad, Casey, Ali, Brooke, and Lindsay, and great grandchildren Will, McKenzie, Finn, Jack, Maggie, Townes, and Murphy.

Words cannot express how much we will all miss this loving, lovely, generous, unbreakable spirit. We will be eternally grateful for the many long years she was with us, and that she was blessed with a full life. It wasn't always easy, there was tragedy and heartache in addition to the joy, but as mom said on occasion. it was a perfect life. And as her grandson T.D. observed, although extraordinary would be the last way she would describe herself, there is no denying that she was.

Mom was a devout, lifelong practicing Catholic, and her Faith sustained her every day and through the challenges she experienced. Her funeral mass and interment will take place on Thursday May 7th, but due to the current COVID 19 situation, we will be postponing Betty's Celebration of Life until such time as gatherings of more than ten people are possible. We hope that all of you who knew and loved our mom will join with us at that time in honoring and remembering this remarkable woman.