A funeral will be held 12 noon Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Ross Hollywood Chapel in Portland, Oregon for Elizabeth “Jean” Batts. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 5, 2019 at the age of 80. A visitation will take place on Friday, September 20, 2019 at Ross Hollywood Chapel, 4733 NE Thompson St., Portland Oregon 97213.
Her father was Lacy Woody from Henry City, Missouri born in 1889. Her mother was Jessie Woody from Cedar Gap, Missouri born in 1897. Elizabeth was born at OHSU on the 21st of February 1939 in Portland, Oregon. She was the youngest of 6 children who were Laurlie, Louis, Phillip, Malcolm, and Michael.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 38 years Master Sergeant Jesse Lee Randolph Batts US Army Retired and her daughter Karen Lee Batts. She is survived by her son Captain Alan L. Batts US Air Force Medically Retired. She raised two kids even when my dad was deployed to Vietnam, Germany and Africa.
Jean and Jesse married in 1961 in Stevenson, WA. It was easier to get married in Washington State than it was in the state of Oregon. Interracial marriages were banned in 22 states in 1961.
She would say I can only have a kid for each hand.
She was an excellent cook. She met wives from different states and countries and was able to learn how to cook different dishes especially from Japan, and Germany. She made her own BBQ sauce from scratch for my dad’s famous BBQ’s on the 4th of July.
She loved passionately. She wanted the best for her children. I would say to her, “I love you mom.” She would reply to me, “I love you more.”
A committal service will take place at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon on Monday September 23, 2019 at 1pm.
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