Betty J. Free
1924 - 2007
Betty J. Free February 3, 1924 - August 23, 2007 Betty J. Free, a native of Taft, Kern County, CA, born to John Craig McLaughlin and Mary Belle Fleming McLaughlin on February 3, 1924, died peacefully on August 23, 2007, in her daughter's (Gena) home in Orem, UT, of causes incident to old age. She was a life-long resident of Taft, attending local schools. Having become a very accomplished pianist, organist and bass violinist, she frequently performed with the Taft High orchestra and at many local piano performances. She provided organ music as well as piano accompaniment for various funerals, performances and church activities. Betty married "Jerry" (Stanley Eugene) Free, her high school sweetheart, on February 9, 1944, in Taft, CA while he was training as a Marine pilot for WWII. After living in Santa Barbara, and El Toro for that military duty and later in Laguna Beach during training for the Korean War, they eventually returned to permanently reside in Taft. Their first home was on "B" Street and their permanent residence was 526 Washington Ave., in Taft. Later in 1964, along with Jerry, Betty helped fulfill their dream of creating a lovely vacation home at Lake Tahoe where they spent many happy days with family and friends. They owned a dry cleaning and laundry service called Sparkle Cleaners on Center St., in Taft, and operated it for over 40 years. During her young married years, Betty was a piano teacher. She also became accomplished in the art of hand-painting fine china. Additionally she learned to downhill ski and so she and family enjoyed many ski trips together. She was an avid seamstress and excellent cook. Loving to entertain both family and friends. Because Jerry developed an intense love for flying from his military career, he continued to fly after the war. Eventually owning their own plane Jerry flew Betty all over the country. They enjoyed many flying experiences together. As a woman of lovely graciousness, she mentored all the good qualities of value-centered living to her only child, a daughter, Merry Eugena (Gena). She loved being a wife and mother, serving her family continuously, thoroughly enjoying being a homemaker. She devoted her best to every member of her family. She was preceded in death by her older brother, "Jack" John Gilbert McLaughlin; her parents; her older sister, "Bonnie" Bonita Sarah McLaughlin Kidd; and her husband, "Jerry" Stanley Eugene Free. She is survived by her daughter, Gena and her son-in-law, John F. Greenhalgh of Orem, UT; six grandchildren, four of their spouses and nine great-grandchildren: Devin Carri and Cory Arthur Wengreen and their daughter, Emma Grayce of Bozeman, MT; Brance Craig Greenhalgh, Orem UT; Corbett Layne and Elisabeth Rebecca Schoenwald Greenhalgh and daughters, Samantha Nadine and Leah Talia and sons, Morgan Stanley and Jonathan Michael of Hillsboro, OR; Garrick Rand and Shelli Vreeken Greenhalgh and daughters, Lyndi Lorraine and Ashleigh Gene and son, Tanner Rand of Salt Lake City, UT; Linc Chase and Meagan Williams Greenhalgh and daughter, Zelli Shea of Bozeman, MT; and Brieann Carrine Greenhalgh of Bozeman, MT. A memorial service for Betty J. Free will be held at the Westside Cemetery in Taft, CA, Tuesday, August 28th, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be directed to any American Red Cross chapter or other humanitarian-aid charity of your choice.
Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 8/26/2007.
1924 - 2007
Betty J. Free February 3, 1924 - August 23, 2007 Betty J. Free, a native of Taft, Kern County, CA, born to John Craig McLaughlin and Mary Belle Fleming McLaughlin on February 3, 1924, died peacefully on August 23, 2007, in her daughter's (Gena) home in Orem, UT, of causes incident to old age. She was a life-long resident of Taft, attending local schools. Having become a very accomplished pianist, organist and bass violinist, she frequently performed with the Taft High orchestra and at many local piano performances. She provided organ music as well as piano accompaniment for various funerals, performances and church activities. Betty married "Jerry" (Stanley Eugene) Free, her high school sweetheart, on February 9, 1944, in Taft, CA while he was training as a Marine pilot for WWII. After living in Santa Barbara, and El Toro for that military duty and later in Laguna Beach during training for the Korean War, they eventually returned to permanently reside in Taft. Their first home was on "B" Street and their permanent residence was 526 Washington Ave., in Taft. Later in 1964, along with Jerry, Betty helped fulfill their dream of creating a lovely vacation home at Lake Tahoe where they spent many happy days with family and friends. They owned a dry cleaning and laundry service called Sparkle Cleaners on Center St., in Taft, and operated it for over 40 years. During her young married years, Betty was a piano teacher. She also became accomplished in the art of hand-painting fine china. Additionally she learned to downhill ski and so she and family enjoyed many ski trips together. She was an avid seamstress and excellent cook. Loving to entertain both family and friends. Because Jerry developed an intense love for flying from his military career, he continued to fly after the war. Eventually owning their own plane Jerry flew Betty all over the country. They enjoyed many flying experiences together. As a woman of lovely graciousness, she mentored all the good qualities of value-centered living to her only child, a daughter, Merry Eugena (Gena). She loved being a wife and mother, serving her family continuously, thoroughly enjoying being a homemaker. She devoted her best to every member of her family. She was preceded in death by her older brother, "Jack" John Gilbert McLaughlin; her parents; her older sister, "Bonnie" Bonita Sarah McLaughlin Kidd; and her husband, "Jerry" Stanley Eugene Free. She is survived by her daughter, Gena and her son-in-law, John F. Greenhalgh of Orem, UT; six grandchildren, four of their spouses and nine great-grandchildren: Devin Carri and Cory Arthur Wengreen and their daughter, Emma Grayce of Bozeman, MT; Brance Craig Greenhalgh, Orem UT; Corbett Layne and Elisabeth Rebecca Schoenwald Greenhalgh and daughters, Samantha Nadine and Leah Talia and sons, Morgan Stanley and Jonathan Michael of Hillsboro, OR; Garrick Rand and Shelli Vreeken Greenhalgh and daughters, Lyndi Lorraine and Ashleigh Gene and son, Tanner Rand of Salt Lake City, UT; Linc Chase and Meagan Williams Greenhalgh and daughter, Zelli Shea of Bozeman, MT; and Brieann Carrine Greenhalgh of Bozeman, MT. A memorial service for Betty J. Free will be held at the Westside Cemetery in Taft, CA, Tuesday, August 28th, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be directed to any American Red Cross chapter or other humanitarian-aid charity of your choice.
Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 8/26/2007.
Betty J. Free
1924 - 2007
Betty J. Free February 3, 1924 - August 23, 2007 Betty J. Free, a native of Taft, Kern County, CA, born to John Craig McLaughlin and Mary Belle Fleming McLaughlin on February 3, 1924, died peacefully on August 23, 2007, in her daughter's (Gena) home in Orem, UT, of causes incident to old age. She was a life-long resident of Taft, attending local schools. Having become a very accomplished pianist, organist and bass violinist, she frequently performed with the Taft High orchestra and at many local piano performances. She provided organ music as well as piano accompaniment for various funerals, performances and church activities. Betty married "Jerry" (Stanley Eugene) Free, her high school sweetheart, on February 9, 1944, in Taft, CA while he was training as a Marine pilot for WWII. After living in Santa Barbara, and El Toro for that military duty and later in Laguna Beach during training for the Korean War, they eventually returned to permanently reside in Taft. Their first home was on "B" Street and their permanent residence was 526 Washington Ave., in Taft. Later in 1964, along with Jerry, Betty helped fulfill their dream of creating a lovely vacation home at Lake Tahoe where they spent many happy days with family and friends. They owned a dry cleaning and laundry service called Sparkle Cleaners on Center St., in Taft, and operated it for over 40 years. During her young married years, Betty was a piano teacher. She also became accomplished in the art of hand-painting fine china. Additionally she learned to downhill ski and so she and family enjoyed many ski trips together. She was an avid seamstress and excellent cook. Loving to entertain both family and friends. Because Jerry developed an intense love for flying from his military career, he continued to fly after the war. Eventually owning their own plane Jerry flew Betty all over the country. They enjoyed many flying experiences together. As a woman of lovely graciousness, she mentored all the good qualities of value-centered living to her only child, a daughter, Merry Eugena (Gena). She loved being a wife and mother, serving her family continuously, thoroughly enjoying being a homemaker. She devoted her best to every member of her family. She was preceded in death by her older brother, "Jack" John Gilbert McLaughlin; her parents; her older sister, "Bonnie" Bonita Sarah McLaughlin Kidd; and her husband, "Jerry" Stanley Eugene Free. She is survived by her daughter, Gena and her son-in-law, John F. Greenhalgh of Orem, UT; six grandchildren, four of their spouses and nine great-grandchildren: Devin Carri and Cory Arthur Wengreen and their daughter, Emma Grayce of Bozeman, MT; Brance Craig Greenhalgh, Orem UT; Corbett Layne and Elisabeth Rebecca Schoenwald Greenhalgh and daughters, Samantha Nadine and Leah Talia and sons, Morgan Stanley and Jonathan Michael of Hillsboro, OR; Garrick Rand and Shelli Vreeken Greenhalgh and daughters, Lyndi Lorraine and Ashleigh Gene and son, Tanner Rand of Salt Lake City, UT; Linc Chase and Meagan Williams Greenhalgh and daughter, Zelli Shea of Bozeman, MT; and Brieann Carrine Greenhalgh of Bozeman, MT. A memorial service for Betty J. Free will be held at the Westside Cemetery in Taft, CA, Tuesday, August 28th, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be directed to any American Red Cross chapter or other humanitarian-aid charity of your choice.
Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 8/26/2007.
1924 - 2007
Betty J. Free February 3, 1924 - August 23, 2007 Betty J. Free, a native of Taft, Kern County, CA, born to John Craig McLaughlin and Mary Belle Fleming McLaughlin on February 3, 1924, died peacefully on August 23, 2007, in her daughter's (Gena) home in Orem, UT, of causes incident to old age. She was a life-long resident of Taft, attending local schools. Having become a very accomplished pianist, organist and bass violinist, she frequently performed with the Taft High orchestra and at many local piano performances. She provided organ music as well as piano accompaniment for various funerals, performances and church activities. Betty married "Jerry" (Stanley Eugene) Free, her high school sweetheart, on February 9, 1944, in Taft, CA while he was training as a Marine pilot for WWII. After living in Santa Barbara, and El Toro for that military duty and later in Laguna Beach during training for the Korean War, they eventually returned to permanently reside in Taft. Their first home was on "B" Street and their permanent residence was 526 Washington Ave., in Taft. Later in 1964, along with Jerry, Betty helped fulfill their dream of creating a lovely vacation home at Lake Tahoe where they spent many happy days with family and friends. They owned a dry cleaning and laundry service called Sparkle Cleaners on Center St., in Taft, and operated it for over 40 years. During her young married years, Betty was a piano teacher. She also became accomplished in the art of hand-painting fine china. Additionally she learned to downhill ski and so she and family enjoyed many ski trips together. She was an avid seamstress and excellent cook. Loving to entertain both family and friends. Because Jerry developed an intense love for flying from his military career, he continued to fly after the war. Eventually owning their own plane Jerry flew Betty all over the country. They enjoyed many flying experiences together. As a woman of lovely graciousness, she mentored all the good qualities of value-centered living to her only child, a daughter, Merry Eugena (Gena). She loved being a wife and mother, serving her family continuously, thoroughly enjoying being a homemaker. She devoted her best to every member of her family. She was preceded in death by her older brother, "Jack" John Gilbert McLaughlin; her parents; her older sister, "Bonnie" Bonita Sarah McLaughlin Kidd; and her husband, "Jerry" Stanley Eugene Free. She is survived by her daughter, Gena and her son-in-law, John F. Greenhalgh of Orem, UT; six grandchildren, four of their spouses and nine great-grandchildren: Devin Carri and Cory Arthur Wengreen and their daughter, Emma Grayce of Bozeman, MT; Brance Craig Greenhalgh, Orem UT; Corbett Layne and Elisabeth Rebecca Schoenwald Greenhalgh and daughters, Samantha Nadine and Leah Talia and sons, Morgan Stanley and Jonathan Michael of Hillsboro, OR; Garrick Rand and Shelli Vreeken Greenhalgh and daughters, Lyndi Lorraine and Ashleigh Gene and son, Tanner Rand of Salt Lake City, UT; Linc Chase and Meagan Williams Greenhalgh and daughter, Zelli Shea of Bozeman, MT; and Brieann Carrine Greenhalgh of Bozeman, MT. A memorial service for Betty J. Free will be held at the Westside Cemetery in Taft, CA, Tuesday, August 28th, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be directed to any American Red Cross chapter or other humanitarian-aid charity of your choice.
Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 8/26/2007.
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See more Free or McLaughlin memorials in:
- West Side District Cemetery Free or McLaughlin
- Taft Free or McLaughlin
- Kern County Free or McLaughlin
- California Free or McLaughlin
- USA Free or McLaughlin
- Find a Grave Free or McLaughlin
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