This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Lace_Lynch Surnames: Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.wells/5532/mb.ashx Message Board Post: CROTON: Betty Orr was born in Cleveland, Ohio (Cuyahoga County) the second-oldest of five girls. Lillian, Betty, Anna Mary, Dorothy and Ruth grew to become the most amazing women: filled with strength, pragmatic wisdom and (most of all) filled with love. Betty attended Otterbein College and it was there that she met a smart, handsome boy named Tom Wells. This was the beginning of an epic partnership that spanned 67 years. Tom and Betty had four children: Judith (Baker), Marilee (Kushner), Timothy and James. She also took endless joy in her grandchildren: Julie, Christopher, Emily, Zarah, Erin, Zachary, and the newest addition to the family, great-grandchild, Tobias. And as the grandchildren grew, she took delight as they had their own adventures, relationships, and families. Betty spent her adult life, together with Tom, in Ohio and northern Virginia. After raising four kids, most people would be ready for a break. Not Betty. She went back to college for a second master's degree and then began a career as a school nurse. There was nothing extraordinary about this in Betty's mind: each phase of life brought new opportunities and interesting experiences. Nothing exemplifies this attitude more than their retirement move to Tom's family farm in Croton, Ohio. This must have been a bold move for a city girl like Betty, but she embraced country life and the sense of community and never looked back. Over the years, the farm evolved into an extended-family compound. It was the members of the Wells Farm, through their love and support, who made it possible for Betty to stay home through the end of her life. Betty leaves dear friends and family from Virginia to California and back to Ohio. Betty was an accomplished watercolor artist and she loved gardening. It's probably more accurate to say that Betty simply loved life. On hikes, she breathed deeply and swung her arms vigorously (she made sure her kids did the same; hands in the pockets was not okay!) It was not just on hikes. This is how Betty lived: breathing deeply of life and cherishing the moment. Betty probably baked 1,000 "welcome" cakes in her lifetime. Returning visitors and family came to expect the sweet scent of fresh baking wafting from the kitchen and a welcome cake on the table. Not a single one of those cakes was necessary because you knew you were welcome in Betty's home. Those of us who knew and loved Betty are better people for having her in our lives. We will still breath deep and swing our arms because that's what she taught us, but perhaps not with the same energy because the world lost a little of its joyfulness when Betty left us. A service to celebrate the life of Betty Wells will be held at Croton United Methodist Church (75 North High Street, Croton, Ohio 43013) at 3 pm on September 12, 2011. In lieu of flowers and in recogition of the importance of the church in Betty's life, donations may be made to Croton United Methodist Church. Crouse-Kauber-Sammons Funeral Home of Johnstown, Ohio is assisting the family. An online memorial can be located at www.cksammons.com. Published in the Advocate, Newark, OH on September 11, 2011 Licking County, Ohio Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.