Bettymae Anderson peacefully passed away, surrounded by her loving family, in Tacoma early Sunday morning, September 2, 2007. She was a wonderful and giving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. Born and raised in Wenatchee, Washington, Bettymae (more fondly known as Bmae or B.) was the cherished daughter of Bill and Jesse Sperry. She attended Whitman College, where her flair for drama bloomed as she majored in history and theater arts. She met and married the love of her life, Randy, nearly 60 years ago. They spent their early married life in Washington, D.C., where she worked as an aide to Senator Warren G. Magnuson, and their daughter Candy was born. Daughters Nancy and Erin were born in Dallas, Texas, where Bmae and Randy made their home for eight years. It was during this period of her life that Bmae became very active in helping Native American families who had been relocated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Her involvement was not simply giving items of food and clothing, it was an expression of total caring as she invited these families into her home and her family's life. Part of what made Bmae such an inspiring person was her love for the less fortunate and those in need of a second chance. It was also during this time that her talents as a visual artist were sparked by her best friend's gift of a box of oil paints. After Dallas, the family moved to Southern California, residing in San Marino for 24 years. It was there that B.'s artistic and entrepreneurial passions ignited. She attended Pasadena City College and Otis Art Institute, which launched a career as an acclaimed designer, printmaker, painter, frame-maker, weaver and knitter. She had a constant awareness of all forms of art expression. B. opened her own art school/studio - B. Anderson Design - in South Pasadena's Mission West District. There she taught hundreds of young and adult students, inspiring some to make art their life's work. Next to her friends and family, B.'s greatest love was Anderson Island, Washington, family home of husband Randy. Ever since her first visit to the island 60 years ago, she felt a strong calling and sense of stewardship to preserve the knowledge of its early settlers, and she was one of the founders of the Anderson Island Historical Society. To this end, she worked tirelessly coordinating educational programs, the A.I.H.S. gift shop, potlucks and fundraising with other like-minded volunteers. Her participation in the Historical Society work party lunches led to her compiling islanders' favorite recipes into the Work Party Cookbook. She always had the vision of an Anderson Island Historical Society archival library and the persistence to launch the effort. Bettymae's eye for beauty was evident in the creation of Anderson House at Oro Bay bed and breakfast inn. With her typical enthusiasm, she cajoled, pushed, and persevered until others without her vision were driven to produce their best, resulting in Anderson House being recognized as one of Washington's Best Places. Her fascination with early Puget Sound history resulted in the book she completed in 2006, Still the Tall Fir Grows, a novel based on her husband Randy's ancestors, who were early settlers of Anderson Island. We have come to know and admire Bettymae Sperry Anderson in many ways. She was a multi-faceted person who pulled us into her orbit and made us feel that we, too could be more talented, more skilled, more confident of our own capabilities than we had ever been before we met her. Her deep spirituality was the foundation of her life. It was evidenced in the love of her family: Randy, Candy, Nancy, Erin, Vince, granddaughter Page, her brother Donald Sperry and his family, her brother-in-law Norman Anderson and his family, and the multitude of friends she drew into her circle. Those who have been touched by this gifted woman are welcome to attend a celebration of her amazing life on Saturday, September 22, 2007, 1:00 p.m., at the Anderson Island Historical Society, 9306 Otso Pt. Rd., Anderson Island, WA.