Obituary of Elizabeth "Betty" Myrtle Horne

In Loving Memory Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Horne December 25, 1929 – January 20, 2016 Myrtle Elizabeth “Betty” Horne passed away at the Good Samaritan Clearwater Centre in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at the age of 86 years. Betty was born in Erskine on Christmas Day, 1929 to Ed and Myrtle (Roppel) Gaines. She grew up in a gentle and loving home and attended Erskine School through to grade nine. The family then moved to Stettler where she completed her high school education while working at the local drug store. It was during this time that she met Jim Horne, one of the young men back from the war, at a local dance. As the romance blossomed Betty attended many a baseball game where Jim played first base. The relationship was put on hold when the Gaines family moved to Iowa, USA. For the next three years Betty attended the School of Nursing at the Mercy Hospital, in Burlington, Iowa and, following her graduation in 1951, went on to work on her Nursing Degree at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. While studying she worked at the local General Hospital excelling in and preferring to work in surgery and obstetrics. Her plans changed though when that handsome first baseman came back into her life. Jim and Betty were married in Iowa in December 1953 and returned to Alberta where they made their home in Sylvan Lake before settling back in Stettler. Betty stayed home in the early years to raise their two children, Richard James, born in August 1954 and Jeri Lynn, born in May 1956. She later returned to work at the Kennedy Auxiliary Hospital, Eaton’s order office and she sold Vanda Beauty Counselor products from her home. Betty volunteered as camp nurse at the Bar Harbor United Church camp, and was a member of the Alberta Chapter of Registered Nurses, the United Church Ladies and the Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary. The family returned to Iowa many a summer to see family and friends and spent time at the family cabin at Buffalo Lake. In later years, Jim and Betty travelled with friends to Hawaii and the USA. They loved to dance to old time music and did so until Betty’s health didn’t allow her the mobility needed to “shake a leg”. A new joy came to them later in life with the arrival of their grandson, Taylor James in 1993. They were so proud of this happy little fellow and delighted in any opportunity to spend time with him. Jim and Betty lived on the family acreage until health issues required a move to Stettler’s Heart Haven Lodge in 2006. After losing her partner of over 50 years, Betty moved to the Good Sam in Rocky Mtn. House to be closer to her daughter. Here she seemed to blossom. It was an environment where a wheelchair was the norm and daily life had lots that interested her with opportunities to become involved in such activities as bell choir, card bingo, ‘answer that question’ (at which she excelled) and hymn sing. Betty was always interested in learning, keeping up on medical breakthroughs, reading the newspaper and watching educational shows. Like anyone that has ever known Betty, the staff and volunteers at the Good Sam recognized in her and grew to love that sweet, kind, caring, thoughtful, and intelligent, yet determined, lady with the beautiful bright blue eyes that didn’t miss a thing. Betty will be remembered and missed by her son Rick; daughter Jeri Lynn (Glenn) Coughlin; grandson Taylor Coughlin; brother-in-law Paul Lefaivre; cousins, nieces and nephews as well as the many friends she has made from childhood, through high school, to nursing school and into her senior years. Betty was predeceased by her parents Ed and Myrtle, husband Jim, brother Clinton (Florence) and an infant brother.