Bettye Jeanne Wingate

Bettye was born on March 20, 1941, to George and Betty Buckley in Needles, California. She spent most of her childhood years in Lakewood, California. As a teenager she moved to Ojai when her Dad accepted a job creating Lake Casitas.

She was the proud mother of three girls; Lauri, Jodi, and Kristen, who she raised independently for the most part. Though she loved being a stay at home mom and maintaining a well-run household, she started working as a medical bookkeeper in her mid-thirties. Bettye then went to school to become a paralegal in her forties, but decided that was not the career she wanted and continued to work in bookkeeping/payroll for many years. After some medical issues, she stopped working and volunteered as a “baby cuddler” at VCMC in the neonatal ward. It is because of this she decided to become a foster mother to newborns. She always said that was one of her most rewarding experiences.

Bettye was a car racing enthusiast. She grew up at the racetrack watching her dad and uncle race, and later her brother Dean, followed by her nephews Sean and Derek. She was always their biggest fan and supporter. She even purchased a race car with her brother.

Bettye was very politically minded and was at the forefront of any cause or injustice, upholding the constitution and honoring our forefathers. Bettye won the Ventura Civic Award for her years of community involvement. She volunteered for years at the election polls, was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Tea Party, and representative for the residents at her mobile home estates. Bettye loved cooking and had many hobbies as she always had a project. One of her biggest hobbies was genealogy and she spent over 30 years researching her family history.

Her favorite pastime was being with grandkids whether it was with Jessica in San Francisco, Nick and Paige in Ventura, Bryce in Napa or great nephew and niece Drake and Makayla in Ojai, who she helped take care of since they were babies. They were all so loved by Mema.

Bettye always spoke her mind and always let you know you were loved. She was always there for you if and when she was needed, even if it was just to talk. Words cannot express how much she will be missed.

Bettye is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Lauri and Don Downard, Jodi and Adrian Ogden, Kristen Wingate and Eric Anderson; grandchildren, Jessica Downard, Nicholas Downard, Paige Wingate, and Bryce Ogden; sister, Judy Moore; brother, Dean Buckley; brother, Dean Buckley and wife Candy; nephews, Sean Buckley, Derek and wife Melinda Buckley, Greg and wife Michele Graham, Michael and wife Ame Durbin; niece, Michelle Durbin; great- nephew, Drake; great- niece, Makayla Buckley; and Cousin, Judy Ann Sarno.

Services will be held Saturday August 15, 2015, 11:00 A.M. at Ted Mayr Funeral home in Ventura, California.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to California Youth Connection Ventura Chapter www.calyouthconn.org/donate

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com.