Obituary

Betty May Tawes was born to parents Walter and Fronia Brighton on January 26th, 1926 in Van Zandt Washington. She passed away in Bellingham Washington on April 13th, 2023.

Betty grew up in Bellingham, where she met and later married her high school sweetheart Robert Tawes in 1944. They went on to have three sons, and were married until Robert passed in 2000. Busy with starting a family, Betty wasn’t able to graduate high school with her class, something she always regretted. So, she decided to remedy that, and 72 years later Betty walked at graduation and got her diploma from Bellingham High school at age 90. Betty was so proud, and gave the advice to her graduating class of 2017 to “Never give up on your dreams”.

Some favorite memories of family and friends of Betty include family gatherings, salmon BBQs, fireworks, and cowpies. She loved puzzles, knitting, playing ‘rich little piggies’, cards with ‘little Bill’, and rides with ‘the Taxi Driver’. She will be remembered for her love of frog gifts, especially one in particular from the mid-70’s; ‘Herkermer”. Betty’s family and friends will fondly remember traveling, camping with telephone pioneers, window visits during covid with the Leverenz clan, how she was a constant in Sheri’s life, and dancing at the Elk’s club.

Betty leaves behind her son Robert “Bobby’ Tawes jr., niece Patti Leverenz, granddaughter Sheri Anne Tawes, grandsons James Allen Tawes and Ryan Bruce Tawes. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren; Kirisa Lee Ellis, Kaylen Angus, Kenzie Angus, Devon Caleb Tawes, Colby Lee Tawes, and Briella Tawes. Betty is pre-deceased by her sons John Thomas Tawes and Donald Tawes, and her brothers Everette, Donald, and Robert Brighton.

Betty lived life with strength and courage and is remembered as being strong willed, caring, sharp as a tack, and a woman who always spoke her mind. She will be dearly missed.

A graveside service will be held Monday April 24th, at Woodlawn cemetery in Ferndale WA at 11am.