Betsy Mackey - Online Memorial Website

Of course we'll celebrate this day with you!  And know that we think of you and we still remember you with a smile and/or a laugh everyday.

Hey Bets, I know it's happy hour wherever you are because you brighten the lives of everyone you touch.  Your life and love will burn enternally with me. I will miss you but I will never forget you.

 

Love

 

Dave Norman

So many of us worked with you over the years.  Time and time again everyone had the same opinion - a beautiful woman with a great laugh, and the ability to keep a clear head when all those around seemed to be losing theirs.  We mourn your passing, but celebrate the life you led, and the way you touched us all.

While Betsy was taken away from us much, much too soon, we can know that she lived more life, and the happiest and most joyous of one, than most do in a longer lifetime.  Betsy lived her life the way she wanted and was truly able to enjoy it and have so very many wonderful people and experiences in her life.  I will always remember the crazy fun and experiences we shared all thru the 80's and early 90's as the best of friends and roommates.  There is nothing but good in Betsy.  I will miss  the 1/2 can soup diet, the free and joyous spirit of you and the "you can do it" attitude about everything.  I'll miss everything about Betsy!  Keep on living the dream, where ever you are, Betsy.  You truly lived your life well.  With lots of love to you, Betsy. 

THERE ARE NO WORDS I CAN POSSIBLY WRITE OR SAY TO EXPRESS THE DEPTHS OF MY BROKEN HEART

                      ONLY QUESTIONS FOR GOD....

TO THOSE OF YOU WHOM I'VE SEEN IN THESE LAST HORRIFIC AND SURREL DAYS, I WISH I COULD SAY THAT OUR GATHERINGS HAD GIVEN  ME,  OR ANY OF US,  A BIT OF COMFORT...SADLY, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY DID....ONLY MORE "WHYS"....

HOWEVER, I AM THANKFUL TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR OUR TIME SHARED ...TRYING TO COPE AND  HELP SUPPORT GAYLE, RICHARD & DENNIS IN THEIR HORRIBLE JOURNEY TO HAWAII .

"NO, NONE OF US WILL EVER GET OVER LOSING OUR BETSY" - AS I'VE ANSWERED GAYLE (MY DAUGHTER) & HER LITTLE GUYS JACK & LUKE.  NO ONE CAN OR WILL EVER, EVER REPLACE OUR "BETS"...SHE WAS OUR "BESTEST" FRIEND . 

ULTIMATELY, WE CAN ONLY GO ON WITH OUR LIVES FEELING THE LOSS, PAIN & EMPTINESS OF MISSING OUR BELOVED LADY WITH THAT INCREDIBLE SMILE......BE THANKFUL FOR THE TIME GIVEN TO EACH ONE OF US WITH HER...HOW HER PASSING HAS BROUGHT US ALL TOGETHER IN OUR SORROW.........

GOD SURELY RECEIVED A "BIGGER THAN LIFE" ANGEL FEBRUARY 17TH....   

WHEN I HEAR ANY 80'S MUSIC, MY MIND TRANSENDS BACK TO THE DAYS OF PURE YOUTHFUL FUN WITH YOU.  YOU, LINDA TRACY & I  SHARING THE ANGST OF OUR 20'S AND ACTUALLY SURVIVING THEM. THE BEST THING ABOUT THAT TIME IS, WE HAD ALL THE FREEDOM TO TAKE OUR LIVES IN ANY DIRECTION WE CHOSE, AND THAT WE DID. WE EVEN DID A BEAUTY PAGENT TOGETHER, THAT NEITHER ONE OF US TOOK SERIOUSLY AT ALL. IN FACT, I THINK YOU WERE CHEWING GUM AS YOU WERE WALKING DOWN THE RUNWAY. I REMEMBER THE EARLY MORNING CALLS TO LAKE PYRAMID FOR WATER SKIING WITH A STOP TO MACONALDS FOR THEIR COFFEE (NO STARBUCKS THEN). AND HOW WE HAD ENDLESS ENERGY TO DANCE ALL NIGHT LONG, SLEEP A COUPLE OF HOURS THEN GO TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING. BETSY, THE ANGELS WILL ENJOY YOUR YOUTHFULNESS, YOUR CONTAGIOUS LAUGH, AND YOUR AMAZING SMILE. DON'T FORGET TO SEND HUGS DOWN TO ALL OF US WHO WILL MISS YOU. 

As I get older I lose more friends

I understand this, but never get used to it

Betsy was my boss on occasion

But always a friend

Respected, trusted and admired

I haven't seen her in a few years

but it never mattered

 

The shock of her loss is very unsetteling

Unexpected

Undesireable

 

To her family and close friends

My prayers are with you

 

Betsy, thank you for all you where and are

I'll miss you already

The world is a little less without you to brighten it

 

With Love and Respect

I remain your friend-Forever!

 

 

THE WOMAN AT THE FLOWER STORE wanted to know if I was taking the balloons to the hospital.  “You can’t take latex balloons into the hospital,” she said, “Only Mylar.”  The balloons were fresh and taut, canary yellow, and banging around on each other like kids in the backseat of the car.  Their long pink ribbons hung like dainty ringlets in a girl’s hair.  I nodded, not hearing a word of whatever else she said.  This was the beginning of my ritual.

 

In the car, the balloons poked me in the head, wanting to see where we were going, looking out the windows, silently asking, “Are we there yet?”, but they had no idea where we were headed.  We were going to the beach.

 

I put the money in the meter, and the balloons were furiously thrashing around, boisterous, on a sugar high.  I crossed the bridge through the sea-grass, and looked around.  No, this beach was too crowded.  We headed up the street.  As we crested the next bridge, there were fewer people.  It would have to do.

 

I found a large, rusted drainage pipe upon which to sit.  I held the balloons close so as not to make a spectacle.  They quietly jostled each other.  I closed my eyes.  “Lord, thank you for the time we were able to spend with our friend Betsy.  Thank you for the gift of her spirit in our lives.  Please bless her in heaven.  We will truly miss her.  Thank you so much for our friend.” 

 

I stood up, and walked to the top of the hill of sea-grass.  I clipped a note to the pink strings.  The wind was howling.  I held the yellow balloons to the sky, and I let go of the ribbons.  Good bye, Betsy.  Good bye, friend.

 

Higher and higher they went; faster and faster they blew north, until they were only a speck behind a palm tree.  They darted behind a grey cloud, and were gone.  I sat back down on the drainage pipe, and watched the cruise ships so far away on the horizon.  The sky was threatening, and the sea turned dark.

 

It wasn’t until I got home that the flood of tears began.  Looking at her pictures, I realized how deeply she was loved by so many, and how truly short her time was on this mortal coil.  Betsy, we will love you forever, and we will never forget you.  Children will grow up hearing the legends of your life.  We will all continue to be inspired by your spirit.

 

Rest in peace my friend.  Until we meet again.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace.

Amen.

May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God,

rest in peace.  Amen