Bettie Ann Davenport Hayes

Bettie Ann Hayes was born February 18, 1936 in Healdton Oklahoma and passed away August 23, 2022 in Fresno California. She gracefully fought health issues until she was called home at 86 years. Bettie leaves behind two children Dawn Baker and Charles Nalett and three stepchildren Susan Guerro, Robert Hayes, and Karen Walton. Preceded in death by sons Randel, Dion, and Baby Nalett.

She also leaves an eternal impact on her 15 grandchildren Casey, Duncan, Kristal, Joshua, Charles (Edward), Shelby, Randy, Hillary, Lauren, Peter, Ben, Bethany, Taylor, Chris, and Jaqueline. She was also blessed with four great-grandchildren: Jaiden, Olivia, Harper, Henry, and a new great grandbaby due in November.

Bettie was the youngest of 6 children. Her family, mother and father Goldie and Ezra Davenport and her siblings Hazel, Wendel, Alta, Edward, and David moved to California from Oklahoma when Bettie was a child. Bettie remembered getting on a bus with a lot of servicemen and having one suitcase with her when they made the trip to California. As a teenager she moved back to Oklahoma to be raised by her sister Hazel, while her mother and sister battled Tuberculosis. Her early life was full of adventure and hardship it might be hard to imagine now. Bettie was resilient and practical and knew how to enjoy life.

Bettie was an exceptional mother and grandmother. She was always loving and supportive of her children and by the time she retired became the fun taxi/babysitter/confidant grandmother. Bettie supported her family and was an emotional lighthouse when any of us were suffering.

She always took interest in the grand children’s friends. She never judged but loved them for who they were. Later in life as her health failed these young friends would come back and visit her and spend time talking to her which gave her comfort. She was also very open to expanding her family. Spouses and partners were treated with love and respect, as well as a fair amount of bum pinching and silly songs in the kitchen. Her family also included her community. When Bettie’s neighbor (and Casey and Duncan’s future grandmother) Docia had twins, Bettie would go over every morning to help Docia bathe and feed the babies before Bettie went to work. You were never a stranger for long at Bettie’s house.

Bettie spent many years working at Valley industrial Services working in the office until she left to work for the state. Bettie retired from the State of California where she worked processing unemployment claims. She always had great stories of her co-workers and work. Casey remembers many take-your-daughter-to-work days and has fond memories of 80’s pumps and perms at grandma’s work. When the state moved to an electronic system, she said goodbye and retired.

She loved coffee, her pets, working in her garden and around her house. Many holidays, birthdays, wedding parties, and other family events were held in her backyard. There are probably still 15-year-old easter eggs somewhere in that yard as we speak. There was a hammock in the shade, doves cooing, gentle windchimes, a passionflower arbor, laundry on the line, berries to be picked, and always a calm cool place to relax outside after dinner.

Bettie’s compassion was not only for her immediate family, but also her fellow man. For years she worked at Northwest church helping with funeral dinners, feeding grieving families after funerals. She always took the time to listen and help where she could. She would talk to the homeless receiving care at the church and would treat them like God’s children. She also volunteered at Valley Teen Ranch helping with whatever was needed.

She loved to go to Walmart, that was her “me time”. Not just going and getting what she needed to but going row by row seeing what was there. Bettie was also frugal. Her best rain hat was an old Walmart bag. Many of us have cackled laughing at her fast-walking through the parking lot, in the rain, with a Walmart bag tied over her head.

Bettie was a lifelong learner. She was curious about the world and would read every sign she came across. At the zoo she would read signs until the kids were beyond ready to move on. When she was a passenger in the car she would read every road sign and billboard until we all wanted to cry. Bettie rode shotgun across country when her granddaughter, Casey, moved from Florida to Seattle and she was nearly left behind in the Stennis Space Center, Chicago Field Museum, the Badlands, a gas station in Wyoming, and Mount Rushmore, for crimes related to sign-reading. She was an excellent travel companion, and always had a good-natured song for the road.

Bettie had a long battle with her health but was supported by her family. She lived with her daughter, Dawn, for her final years. Bettie was surrounded by love and attention; she received amazing care that helped her live long past what was expected of her. In the last three years she survived Shingles, Covid, and a house fire. Bettie had several beautiful and caring care givers; Dulce (Candy), Gloria, and Paula. Each of these three women treated Bettie with respect and love. Candy literally pulled her from a burning house. Gloria was compassioned and loving toward Bettie; they shared many laughs and hugs. Paula was a perfect companion who got her to exercise, sing and dance. According to Bettie was the only person in the world that could get her hair just right.

It is our hope that Bettie will be remembered for her love, her compassion, and her sense of humor. Bettie will be missed, but the impact she had on those around her will have a lasting effect.