Betty Mae (Gardner) Youngs: Beloved (and Wacky) Woman, Daughter, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother...

It's hard to know where to begin, when the life of someone you love has ended.  Perhaps I will start with some of the facts of her life, and include a few memories as well.

My grandmother, Betty Mae (Gardner) Youngs was born on 21 February 1926 in Unadilla, Ostego, New York.  Her parents were Henry Joseph Gardner (1896-1955) and Carrie May Colton (1903-1939).  Betty was the second child of four surviving children to Carrie (Colton) Gardner.  Her older brother Henry (Hank) Gardner was born in 1922.  Her younger siblings were Doris (born 1930) and Richard (born 1933).


Betty's mother died early (age 36) shortly after giving birth to a fifth child in 1939.  That child would have been a sister named Dorothy Gardner.  She was stillborn, and likely buried by their father at the family's home then on 24 April 1939.  Grandma's mother Carrie died two days later--cause of death "eclampsia", something which could have been treated in a modern hospital today.

Needless to say, Grandma had a difficult life in many respects.  She grew up in the Great Depression, spent her teen years without a mother and needing to take care of her own younger siblings, and like many would see more family tragedy later in life with the death of her own oldest son.  I believe what most of us will remember though, is the great sense of humor she possessed.  Betty always seemed to have an off-color remark, a dirty joke, or some humorous story to share.  And her arms and heart were open for anyone of her family or numerous friends.  I will always remember her warmth and love from the days we spent together when I was a child.  And some funny memories too.   Among them her pulling her dentures out of her mouth half-way and chasing us around the house! 

Betty with her father Henry Joseph Gardner
on the family farm.
One of my very favorites.

Betty married Eric Tyler Youngs (1918-2006) on 11 May 1946 in Oneonta, Otsego, New York.  They had five children.  And numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Myself being one of her granddaughters.

Betty Mae (Gardner) Youngs with
two eldest sons

She balanced family and work, as well as involvement in the women's arm of the local Moose Club.  In later years as her health deteriorated she had to live at the Veterans' Home in Oxford, New York, where she continued to enjoy reading mystery novels and sometimes had stories of the various "intrigues" among residents there at the Veterans' Home.   She took a little interest in my family history research and discoveries, in particular those of her German line, and it is thanks to her recollections that I was able to do much of my research in both her and her husband's parts of the family.

Betty (on the right) doing volunteer work with friends in the "Women of the Moose" organization

Grandma died 21 June 2015 there in Oxford, Chenango, New York.

She is loved and missed.

Her obituary can be found here at the moment:
http://landersfh.com/tribute/details/906/Betty_Youngs/obituary.html

I will also be sharing numerous photos from her life here, and with family.

I have numerous vital records in my possession, but will not post them here due to the recency of all events.  (If you are a family member doing genealogical research who would like to validate some of what you find above, please contact me.)