Betty Jane Choate

Betty Jane Choate, age 94, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 18th, 2023 in her home in Davie, Florida.  She lived a long, rewarding, and eventful life. Born on September 12, 1929, in Buffalo, New York, Betty spent most of her early childhood and young adult years in the northeast.  Acting and the theater were one of her early passions and she was active with the Nutley Little Theater, starring and participating in many productions.  She had a fascinating work career, loved traveling around the world and spent a lifetime helping others.  Although never married, she was loved by all who met her. She was passionate in her love of cats, travel and things she cared about. Career-wise, Bette worked as a secretary for Madison Square Garden in the 1950s –becoming a fan of the basketball New York Knicks and Hockey New York Rangers as well as the Circus, Rodeo and Ice Capades. She later went to work for Hearst Movietone News before moving to South Florida in the early 1960s.  Here, she was employed by the Ivan Tors Studio and worked on movies such as Flipper and Thunderball, a James Bond movie shot in the Bahamas. Later she worked for the building department in the town of Bal Harbor.  Upon retirement she volunteered at the Humane Society of Broward County, served as Treasurer of her condo association and continued to cruise around the world.  She was a passionate fan of actors Gary Cooper and Christopher Plummer, Columnist/TV commentator, Charles Krauthammer, and President George W Bush.  Bette was preceded in death by her parents, John and Alice Choate and niece Vicki Choate Godleski. She is survived by her brother, David Choate of Hollywood, and nieces Deborah Choate Collins, Jennifer Choate Enright, Alison Choate Olthoff.  Visitation Services will be held December 26, 2023 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Fred Hunter's University Drive 2401 South University Drive, Davie, FL 33324. Private Burial to take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Betty Jane's name to The Humane Society of Broward County and Tunnel to Towers Foundation