Betty Louise Manus

Betty Louise Manus died Sunday afternoon, February 9, 2014 at Webb's Adult Care Home in Snowflake, Navajo County, Arizona following a lengthy illness. Betty Louise Manus was born on April 26, 1931 near Hamilton, Ravalli County, Montana to her parents, the late Charles Ray and Victoria "Vicki" (Bradford) Marshall. It was a snowy cold day, and her brother, Don, who was 13 years old at the time, was sent by horseback to get a doctor several miles away. The doctor delivered a 2-1/2 pound baby and put her in a shoebox on the oven door of the wood stove to keep her warm. When she was six months old, the family moved to Wenatchee, Washington to pick apples, build apple boxes and lived with her aunt and uncle. Later, the Marshall family moved to Carlton, Oregon where her father farmed and raised turkeys. When she was 6 years old, her mother passed away. At age 11, Betty's father died and she then went to live with her newly married brother. Shortly thereafter, her brother was drafted into the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII. When that happened, her aunt and uncle, Elmer & Louise Bradford, took her to live in Laurel, Montana where she finished her last 3 years of high school. On a visit to Oregon following her graduation, she met a classmate and married Lee Carter. Two daughters, Teresa Voorhies and Karen Lynn were born. After 20 years of marriage, they divorced and Betty moved to Reno, Nevada and began working for a sign company as well as at a bank in its trust department. While in Reno, she met a chef by the name of Jim Manus. The couple married in 1970 and, following 21 years of marriage, Jim died in 1991. After visiting her brother, who had retired to Arizona, she fulfilled a lifelong dream to travel. She felt that "if these guys at 85 years old could travel, than so could I." She bought her own motor home and then joined her brother in Arizona. She traveled the western part of the United States as part of a singles club called "Loners on Wheels." During the summer months, Betty joined her brother to go back to Oregon where she always enjoyed visiting old friends. Finally, tired of traveling, and, after her brother died in 2001, Betty began to spend her summer months in Show Low, Arizona and decided to go back to work, part-time, at Walmart. During the winter months, she was transferred to stores in Tucson, Yuma and Queen Creek, always returning to her home in Show Low during the summer. She retired, permanently, after 5 years of dedicated service with Walmart and made Show Low her year round home. Betty spent 13 years in RV Park and, in July of 2012, she sold her RV and said "good-bye" to her vagabond RV life and moved into Senior Apartments in Show Low. In late 2012, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Since it was discovered in its early stages, and because she was under the care of excellent doctors, she had radiation and was able to take chemotherapy pills. Betty was fortunate to regain her health and she kept busy helping other residents get to their doctors' appointments as well as assisting them with their grocery shopping. Many will miss her generous and giving spirit and smiling face. Betty Louise Manus is survived her 2 daughters: Teresa L. Voorhies of Olympia, Washington, Karen L. Lyons of Carlton, Oregon; 2 granddaughters; 4 great-grandchildren; 1 niece, Vicki Lindmark of Bend, Oregon; 2 nephews: Dough Marshall of Bend, Oregon and Mark Marshall of Portland, Oregon. In keeping with her wishes, Betty's ashes will be scattered along the Oregon Coast during a private family ceremony. Betty's family would like to publicly acknowledge and thank the caring staff of Webb's Adult Care Home in Snowflake as well as the Hospice Compassus nurses and social workers who so loving cared for her every need. You are all angels.