beautiful aunt betty

Elizabeth Ann Secker, n‚e Bloodgood Passed away February 17, 2013 at Novato Community Hospital, Novato, CA. Elizabeth, known to her friends and family as "Betty", was born to father Dean Ward Actly Bloodgood and mother Lillie Foy Flatt Bloodgood on April 18, 1932 in Pomona, CA. In 1937 the family moved to Austin, Texas. Betty attended school in Austin, earned a B.A. in Interior Design from the University of Texas, Austin, and later an M.A. in Interior Design from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. She worked as a design consultant in Austin and taught interior design as a graduate instructor at ISU. In July of 1955 Betty married Martin Dayss Secker; they first met in the UT library. Together they lived for three years in Pensacola, eight years in Austin, ten years in Ames, and 36 years in Fairfax. Although never a resident of New Mexico, Betty was always aware of her father's heritage-his having been born in the silver boomtown of Kingston, his subsequent work as a silver and gold miner, and his professional life as a geologist in the American southwest. In this way, she was both a Texan and a New Mexican. An outdoor enthusiast all her life, Betty never loved any place more than her native California. Once she and her family moved to Marin, Betty became an avid hiker, walking the surrounding hills with her dear friends in the Thursday Hikers club. Her artistic talent found outlets in quilting and photography. She became active in several quilting groups in Marin, Sonoma, and the East Bay, and was always involved in quilting projects. Betty, together with her husband, loved to travel; they enjoyed many Elderhostels, which they usually extended with a vacation in the area of the hostel. She and Martin were members of The Marin German American Society, The Marin Model A Club and The Golden Gate Swiss Club. Betty, with her family, was an Episcopalian and a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Ross, CA. Although in the last years of her life her light was dimmed by Alzheimer's disease, Betty was always a true lady of the South: sweet, kind, polite, considerate and courteous to the very end. Betty is survived by her husband Martin, her son Marty and his wife Muriel and children Dean and Emma, her son Harry, and her son Paul and his wife Heather and daughter Hazel. She is also survived by her brother Dean, his wife Valerie, and his sons Forest and Grant. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 16 at 11:00 AM at St. John's Episcopal Church, Ross, CA. The service will be followed by a reception at Deer Park Villa in Fairfax. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 217, Ross, CA 94957, or to Friends of the Watershed, Marin Municipal Water District, 220 Nellen Ave., Corte Madera, CA 94925. Betty's family would like to thank The Oaks in Petaluma and Creekwood Senior Home in Novato for their kind care, and especially Dr. John W. Ward for the many years of wonderful medical care he provided, with a warmth and patience accorded so generously to Betty and Martin.
Published in Marin Independent Journal on Mar. 13, 2013