Betty Morris Dease

December 1921 — March 2016 Betty Morris Dease passed away peacefully at her Corvallis home on March 14. Betty enjoyed life to the fullest and spent most of her life in Tyler, Texas, where she had many family members and friends. Betty’s parents, also Tyler residents, were Jetpha Morris and Addie Ramsour. Betty grew up in a family of nine children and has one surviving brother and sister-in-law, Bobby and Anna Morris, of Jackson, Mississippi. There are many nieces and nephews, who she dearly loved. Upon moving to Tyler, Betty’s first job was at Cameron Cafeteria. Then, she worked for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and spent most of her career with the Social Security Office. She married James Griffin and, after he passed away, married Earl Dease. After Earl died, Betty established a close friendship with her neighbor, Buddy Aaron, and they were together on a daily basis. Betty was a life-long member of First Presbyterian Church in Tyler. She moved to Corvallis in 2012 to be near her daughter and her husband, Linda and John Watkins. Betty loved to travel, garden, play bridge and walk daily, wherever she was. After retiring, she worked for 20 years as a volunteer at Medical Center Hospital, Meals on Wheels and First Presbyterian Church. Her lifelong and best friends, Pauline Bedgood and Evelyn Garner, met weekly for what they called “the sewing club.” Their children continued this close friendship. Betty had an independent and adventurous spirit that she passed on to her children and grandchildren. She was a kind person who saw the best in everyone. She taught us all to overcome obstacles and live life to the fullest, one day at a time. Betty is survived by her daughter, Linda Watkins and husband Tom Brodnax of Corvallis, grandchildren Kerry Watkins and husband John Holley Matthews, great-grandson Austin John Matthews, also of Corvallis; daughter Candice Watkins and son Jackson Fox of Tacoma Washington, and Jackson’s father, Chris Fox, of Astoria. A service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 24, in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church of Tyler, with Dr. Stuart Baskin officiating. Donations to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice in Albany, First Presbyterian Church in Tyler, Texas, or First Presbyterian Church in Corvallis are appreciated. Please share your thoughts and memories for the family at www.demossdurdan.com.

Betty Morris Dease

December 1, 1921 - March 16, 2016