Betty Jean Pardis

Betty Jean Beck Pardis passed away on March 9, 2016, at Providence St. Mary Medical Center after a short battle with cancer. Betty was born Dec. 7, 1925, in Walla Walla, to Adolf and Amber (Casey) Beck. She attended Sharpstein School and graduated from Walla Walla High School.

Being the granddaughter of the city’s fire chief, she was allowed to ride on the fire truck with him on several occasions. She studied music at the Whitman Conservatory and playing the piano and organ were always an important part of her life. Her parents often invited young servicemen, who were stationed at the airbase during the war, to Sunday dinner. That was how she met Harold (Micky) Moose and they were married. They had four children who were raised in Walla Walla. They later divorced and she later married Robert Pardis. They lived in many places including Vancouver, Chicago, San Diego and Kennewick, but they eventually returned to Walla Walla. Betty was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and played the organ there from many years. She also played the piano for numerous annual productions of the “Sharpstein Showboat” as well as several musicals at the Walla Walla Little Theatre. She was a member of the Walla Walla Symphony Guild for many years. She also loved cooking and hosting family dinners. There was no such thing as a “quick simple meal” for Betty and she enjoyed decorating the table to match the meal.

Betty is survived by her children, Michelle (Bill) Chandler, Rodney (Barb) Moose, Candice Holman and Kevin Moose; 10 grandchildren and 22 greatgrandchildren; a brother, Robert Beck; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and granddaughter.

She was a generous, compassionate woman who loved the Lord and family, and made them the main priorities of her life. Her presence was a light and joy to those around her, and she will be greatly missed.

The memorial service for Betty will be at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walla Walla at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 19, 2016. Memorial contributions may be made to Walla Walla Symphony Foundation or Trinity Lutheran Church through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guest book at www.herringgroseclose.com.