Betty LaRue Hayes' Obituary
Betty Hicks was born in Falls Creek, Pennsylvania on March 4, 1930. She came with her parents, Earl and Ogaretta Hicks, to California in April 1930. She resided with her parents in the Huntington Park area from 1930 to 1950 and she graduated from Bell High School in January 1948 in Bell, California.
Betty met her future husband, Joseph, in August 1949 while returning home by bus from Oregon after visiting her Aunt and Uncle in Grants Pass, Oregon. On March 22, 1950 in Bell, California, Betty was married to Joseph Hayes.
Their marriage brought them four daughters, Suzanne Lynne, born March 15, 1951 in Oceanside, California; Sandra Louise, born February 25, 1952 in Los Angeles, California; Sharon Lorraine, born June 16, 1961 in Santa Ana, California; and Sylvia Lynette, born September 29, 1963 in Santa Ana, California.
After their marriage, Betty traveled with her husband, Joseph, and her family to various military stations, including Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi; Fort McArthur, San Pedro, California; Scott AFB, Belleville, Illinois; Ladd AFB, Fairbanks, Alaska; Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas; Santa Ana, California while Joseph was on recruiting duty; Wheeler AFB, Wahiawa, Hawaii; and Norton AFB, San Bernardino, California until Joseph retired from the Air Force at Norton AFB in September 1970.
After Joseph retired from the Air Force, he and Betty and their family settled down in the San Bernardino and Highland, California areas until her passing on May 11, 2013, where she passed away peacefully in her home with her loving family around her.
Betty worked in various jobs, including bank teller, swimming instructor, life guard, and homemaker (which was her greatest achievement). Her hobbies included family, friends, travel, genealogy, and sewing.
She belonged to the following Fraternal Organizations, either alone or with Joseph by her side:
Past Worthy Matron and Member of Gate City, Order of Eastern Star, San Bernardino, California
Past Worthy High Priestess and Member of San Bernardino White Shrine of Jerusalem #17, San Bernardino, California
Past President and Member of the Order of Beauceant, San Bernardino Assembly #200, San Bernardino, California
Past Royal Matron and Member of the Order of Amaranth, Mission Bell Court #156, Riverside, California
Charter Member and Past Secretary of Ladies of the Oriental Shrine, Riverside, California
Past President of the Women Club, San Bernardino, California
Betty greatly enjoyed spending time with her family which included her husband, Joseph, of 63 years, her four daughters, three grandsons, Gerald, Rodney, and Jedediah, and two granddaughters, Jessica and Jacqueline, twelve great grandchildren, ages 1 ½ to 14 ½, Anthony, Jocelyn, Austin, Isabella, Hayden, Alexia, Angel, Calvin, Justin, Alicia, Michael, and Carson, and the sons-in-laws, granddaughters-in-laws and grandsons-in-laws.
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