Betty Lee (Calvin) Walker

Betty Lee (Cavin) Walker
1929 - March 6, 2014

Betty Lee (Cavin) Walker passed away on Thursday, March 6, 2014, at her residence in Woodland, with her family and friends caring for her. Betty was born in Aberdeen, Wash., in 1929 to Evelyn "Belle" (De Souza) Cavin and Alexander Bell Cavin.
Betty grew up in Dunsmuir, attending grade school there until her freshman year in high school when she began attending Holy Rosary Academy in Woodland. She was introduced to Bud Walker by his two sisters - also academy alums - and on their first date Bud asked Betty to marry him and they were partners in life for 64 years until Bud's passing in Baker City, Ore., in 2012.
Together they ranched near Woodland and in Lostine, Ore., for more than 25 years. Betty was a registered dental hygienist attending dental school in San Francisco and working both in San Francisco and in Woodland. Besides the family ranch Betty also worked for Wallowa Hardware in Wallowa, Ore.; owned her own clothing store called Jessica's with daughter Paula in La Grande, Ore., and worked several years in retail in Baker City, Ore.
She was an accomplished seamstress winning many awards in the Yolo County Fair with her embroidery work. She was most creative in her sewing room and it is the most fortunate who are in possession of a Betty Walker "homemade with love" gift of some type.
She was also an excellent hunter and enjoyed fishing the Columbia and Snake Rivers and served a fantastic "crappie" dinner from "line to plate"! And in her encore career with Bud established themselves as incredible remodelers on a cabin in Soda Springs, and houses in Long Beach and Auburn.
Betty enjoyed traveling and was able to visit Poland with daughter Pam, experience several European countries with daughter Paula, visiting her ancestry through Portugal and Spain with sister Virginia, traversing Mexico in their RV with Bud and appreciate the beauty of America by visiting more than 25 states.
Betty moved back to Woodland, to be near her sister Virginia after Bud's passing. She moved to Lincoln Gardens in Woodland in November 2012 and soon became friends with a very warm and endearing group of neighbors. This last year she enjoyed playing Bingo, going to pot lucks, telling the "city girls" many "ranching stories" spending time with her sister and other family members, and visiting with old friends.
Survivors include daughters Pam Walker (Morgan Lynn) of Auburn, Paula (Mitch) Southwick of Baker City; granddaughter Jessica Southwick of Hermiston, Ore.; sister Virginia Haugen (Percy) of Woodland, nephews Iver Rudi (Diane) of Colorado, Ron Rudi (Debbie) and Wayne Rudi (Chris) of Woodland and their families; great nieces Tammy Smith of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Katrina Smith of Woodland. She is also survived by sister- and brother-in-law Mazie (Walker) and Dick Carnell of Sierraville, Pat Johnson of Shingle Springs; and their families and many friends in California and in Oregon.
A celebration of her life in Woodland will be held at Lincoln Gardens at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 22, and other celebrations will be held in her beloved Wallowa County and in Blackwood Canyon later this summer.