Betty S. Merritt

Betty Lou Swee was born to Sidney and Myrtle Swee on March 8th, 1930 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was their only child, and as they were both deaf, sign language played an important role throughout Betty’s life. Her parents ensured she was exposed to spoken language during her early years, including buying her a radio when she was only 4 years old. As a result Betty became a bridge between the deaf community and the hearing world. Betty attended elementary school through Junior College in Grand Rapids, and continued her education at Michigan State College, in East Lansing. To help pay for her education there, she became a secretary in the agricultural department and also “car hopped” at a drive-in Hamburger Café.

It was at Michigan State that she met her future husband, John Eldridge Merritt (Jack) a native of New Jersey. Both Jack and Betty graduated in 1952, Betty with honors in Business Education (obtaining a teaching certificate), Jack with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After college Jack began working for Philco in Philadelphia, while Betty worked as a high school teacher in Michigan. On June 27, 1953 they were married and Betty moved to Philadelphia. Unable to use her teaching credential in Pennsylvania, she took work as an executive secretary of Stetson Hats Co for 3 ½ years.

Eventually, Jack and Betty bought a home in Norristown PA and had three children: Pamela, Scott and Laura. In the early 60s, Ford bought Philco and the Merritt Family moved to Newport Beach CA in 1966, where Jack was a radar design engineer for Ford Aeroneutronics until retirement.

Betty’s life centered around her family, faith and friends. Having taken off work to raise her children, Betty rejoined the workforce in the 70’s and became an interpreter for deaf students. For over 15 years she supported students attending a variety of the Coastline Community Colleges, Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Northridge. She also taught sign language classes at Orange Coast College.

Betty’s work did not stop in retirement as she and Jack spent time serving others through their church home, Christ Lutheran Church in Costa Mesa and supporting friends and family with the challenges of life. They also found time for adventures, including time spent with their children, grandchildren, and camping and cruising with friends. In 1998 Jack and Betty took a 64 day world cruise on the Ocean Princess, which they considered the adventure of a lifetime.

Jack passed away in 2007 and Betty moved to Regents Point Retirement Community in February 2009. In 2010, Betty traveled to Norway with family and visited the Otterness Family Farm where her great grandparents had once emigrated from.

Betty leaves her three children, Pamela Sneathen, Scott Merritt, Laura Michelsen; their spouses Scott, Kristin, and Eric; her grandchildren, Samantha Merritt, Cassandra James, Sarah Michelsen, and Ethan Michelsen.

Betty (Mom and Grandma) will live on with us in our memories, the things she taught us and the love she shared.