Betty Bagley

Florence Elizabeth “Betty” Bagley, 95, of Greeley, passed away peacefully with family members at hand on Friday, June 10, 2016 in Greeley. Betty was born April 24, 1921 in Boulder, Colorado to Earl V. Sutter and Viola Phillips Sutter, the second of three children in a happy and loving family. She graduated in 1939 from Eckley (Colorado) High School and studied at Colorado State College of Education (now the University of Northern Colorado) for two years and taught school in Yuma County during World War II. She married Gail A. Bagley on September 5, 1945 upon his return from the War. In coming years, Betty and Gail were to reside in Colorado, Missouri and Iowa and raise four children. Despite the demands of being a wife, mother and homemaker with part-time work to help make ends meet, Betty was able to complete her studies and obtain a degree from Colorado State College (UNC) in 1960. She returned to teaching in Missouri and Colorado, eventually closing out her working years as a librarian at UNC’s Michener Library. Betty was also one of the few remaining people to hold a lifetime teaching certificate. In 1966, Gail and Betty decided to relocate to Tanzania, East Africa, with their family, where they lived and worked for over two years. This was in part for the benefit of their children, for whom the Africa years, and subsequent return journey through the Middle East and Europe, would be a transformative experience. Betty and Gail settled in Eaton, Colorado in 1969 and resided comfortably there until moving to Greeley in 2008. In Eaton they bade farewell to their children as one by one each grew and, strengthened by their parents’ love and guidance, went on to life adventures. An outgoing “people person”, Betty made many friends and was a mainstay of the congregation at the Alger Memorial United Methodist Church. After retirement, she and Gail traveled widely both nationally (visiting every State – a goal of hers) and internationally. Betty’s energy seemed at times limitless as she welcomed and provided for one and all, managing also to find time for reading and crossword puzzles. Her boundless caring for others made her a renowned and beloved figure. Betty is survived by her husband Gail of Greeley, a son David of Town of Russia, New York, a son Steven and his wife Chris of Eaton, and a son Thomas and his wife Alana of Mission Viejo, California. She also had seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death in 1992 by her daughter Catherine Bagley Parker of Laguna Beach, California. Funeral services will be held on Friday June 17th at 11:00 a.m. at the Moser Funeral Service chapel, 3501 South 11th Avenue, Evans, Colorado. Betty will later be interred at her family’s gravesite in the Eckley Cemetery, and will be loved and missed forever by all who knew her.

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Betty Bagley

April 24, 1921 - June 10, 2016