Betty Rex, 81, who loved to be called GGma by her great-grandchildren, began her eternal life with her Lord on September 29, 2021, in Louisville, CO. She died of lung cancer.
Betty was born in Loveland, CO, on February 7, 1940, to Floyd and Dorothy Shankle. After moving to farms in Iowa, Nebraska and Fort Collins where she went to fourth and fifth grade, she then settled with her mother, Dorothy, and sisters, Pat and Erma, in Longmont, CO, where she completed her education.
Betty has spent the majority of her life in and around Boulder County. After spending several years as a waitress at the Village Inn Pancake House at Cross Roads Mall, where her children would come with all their friends, mostly to see her, she moved on to AT&T aka Lucent aka Nokia where she spent many years and retired in 2000.
Betty was proceeded in Death by her parents, Floyd and Dorothy, both of her sisters, Erma and Pat her first husband, Harold Johnson and second husband, Gary Rex. Betty was the matriarch of the family, the last remaining family member of that generation. She is survived by three children, Karen Willis (Ray) of Nederland, CO; Doug Johnson (Bev) of Arvada, CO; and Ronald Johnson of Rifle, CO. She has two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, all of whom she adored. Well-known for her beautiful smiles, there was pure joy when she was holding the little ones. She was also known for her warm and comforting hugs. The power and love that she shared with a hug was the best medicine in the world. She raised her children along with Harold Johnson; with love teaching them how to be independent and strong with amazing work ethics. Betty led by example, teaching love, compassion, kindness and forgiveness which she believed to be the foundations of a better world.
Betty and Harold were well known in the boating world for their famous Pig Roasts at Carter Lake on July 4th. Everyone was welcome. By providing plenty of food and unlimited pulls waterskiing, she always knew where her children were and who their friends were.
Betty and Gary were well known in their Church, Calvary Chapel in Broomfield, where they participated in the youth ministry and assisting the elderly with home maintenance. She loved traveling within the USA where she felt there was more beauty to see than you could fit into a lifetime. Whenever someone was sick or had a death in the family, she would provide a meal or two. Cooking and sharing food with family and friends was her way of showing that she cared and was there for them.
She will be greatly missed.
Services will be held on October 17th at 1:30 pm, at Calvary Church, 12700 Sheridan Boulevard, Broomfield, CO 80020
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Betty Rex Educational Scholarship Fund at Premier Members Credit Union, 5505 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, Co 80303. For online messages to the family visit www.murphyfuneraldirectors.com.