Bettye J. Sheppard

Bettye June Sheppard (nee Watson), age 76, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, passed away on October 9, 2022, at Hospice of the Valley in Surprise, AZ. Bettye was born in Evansville, Indiana, on June 18, 1946, to Robert Lee and Mary Lou Watson (nee Stokes). She graduated from F. J. Reitz High School in 1964 and attended Indiana State University. After university, Bettye taught elementary school and ultimately became a master and teacher of quilting. She taught quilting classes and held workshops in many countries, including the USA, Canada, Japan, and the Philippines. Bettye married her high school sweetheart, David Murray, in 1966. Following divorce, she married Navy sailor, Victor Sheppard. As a civilian, Bettye was elected President of the Navy Wives Club at Subic Bay, Philippines, and served as the US Navy Ombudsman for Rear Admiral Lee E. Levenson. Bettye and Victor had two daughters, Jennifer and Rebekah. After Victor’s retirement from the Navy as a Chief Petty Office and Master at Arms, Bettye and Victor lived in Evansville, Indiana, where Bettye owned and operated The Quilters Barn. The family then moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where Victor and Rebekah’s unexpected deaths in 2007 and 2009 were difficult events for Bettye. She later met Edward (Ted) Parry of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. For many years, Bettye and Ted lived together in Lake Havasu during the winter months and in Victoria, Canada during the summer months. Ted passed away in Canada only a few months before Bettye passed away in Lake Havasu, and his passing brought great sorrow to Bettye in her final months. Bettye is survived by a daughter, Jenifer Sheppard; a son-in-law, Justin Sutton; and three grandchildren: Taylor Sutton, Justin Hyde, and Mary Elizabeth Gunderman. Justin and Taylor Sutton were caregivers to Bettye in Lake Havasu during the months preceding her passing. Bettye is also survived by her sister, Nancy Lee Montgomery; her brother, Dr. Robert Stephen Watson, and many nieces and nephews. Bettye is also survived by many friends and co-quilters in Lake Havasu, Victoria, and Evansville, as well as in other countries where she lived and taught quilting classes. Remembrances may be posted online at https://www.simplycremationaz.com/obituary/bettye-j-sheppard/. Memorial contributions may be made to the Navy Wives Association at Donate – Navy Wives Clubs of America – Doing Business As Military Families Wordlwide, to St. Judes Children’s Hospital at Make a donation to cure childhood cancer – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org), or to your favorite charity or church.