Betty Lou Fitzgerald

Betty Lou Fitzgerald, 87 years, of Walla Walla, died May 23, 2017, at Providence St. Mary Medical Center with her family at her bedside.

Betty was born on November 7, 1929, in Plentywood,MT., to Lewis and Thelma Pierce. She graduated from Plentywood High School in 1947. That same year she moved to Seattle for work. She married Floyd Leonard McCoy, also from Plentywood, in May of 1948. Betty and Floyd made their home in South Seattle. They had three children, Robert(Sandy) of Walla Walla, Dennis (Cecilia) of Kent,WA, and Cheryl of College Place, WA. Floyd died in November of 1975 from complications of Multiple Sclerosis.

Betty married Robert (Bob) Fitzgerald in September of 1976. They made their home in the Kent, WA area. They moved to College Place in 2001 and then to Brookdale Assisted Living in Walla Walla in 2014 Betty worked in the Seattle meat packing industry during the 1950’s. She then worked for the U.S. Postal Service at the Seattle-Tacoma airport. She retired in 1989.

Betty was an active member of the Lutheran churches in Burien, Kent and Walla Walla. She was a former member of the Quilting group at Christ Lutheran. She enjoyed handiwork crocheting, knitting and embroidering. She made many blankets and afghans for family and friends until as she said, “My fingers have just given out!” Gardening and her flower beds were very important to her. Betty and Bob traveled extensively throughout the western United States during their retirement years. They also traveled to Europe with the family in 1996. Betty was a great cook and baker! Many family meals over the years were enjoyed around her table. Making and delivering care packages to family and friends at holiday time was a tradition. In her later years, she still enjoyed family gatherings especially with her grandchildren and
great-grand kids. Saturday mornings were very special with her weekly shopping trip and breakfast out with her daughter Cheryl.

Mom was always in charge! She was the force we all fell in step with! She lived through the Depression on a farm on the Northeastern Montana prairie, those experiences in getting by with what you had, served her well in later life. In her last weeks, she took great delight and telling the doctors and care givers, that she would be “just fine, I’m a tough old bird!”

Betty is survived by her husband, Fitz, at Brookdale;her brother, Harlan Pierce (Betty), Tacoma WA; her three children, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren,and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband; sisters, Barbara Goette and Donna Roberts.

Memorial contributions in her name may be made to Christ Lutheran Church or to a charity of the donor’s choice through Herring-Groseclose Funeral Home,315 West Alder, Walla Walla, WA 99362.

Our family wishes to thank all who have helped take care of our mom, Brookdale Senior Living, Park Manor Rehabilitation Center, Providence St. Mary Medical Center, Dr Bruce Barga, Dr Eric Gryler, and the numerous and caring nurses and caregivers in these clinics and facilities. A special thank you to Jeff Mahan and the staff at the funeral home for their professional services.

Visitation and viewing will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 26, 2017, at Herring-Groseclose Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Christ Lutheran Church, 1420S. 2nd Ave., Walla Walla. Interment will be at 1 p.m.,at Washington Memorial Park, 16445 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA.