Betty Grau Obituary

Name: Service for Betty Grau
Start: 2022-07-11T17:00:00.000Z
Location: Wheeler Smith Mortuary - San Luis Obispo

Betty Grau
June 9, 2022
San Luis Obispo, California - After a short illness Betty passed away peacefully at the age of 94. She was born to Carl and Alma Mathis in Oklahoma, the oldest of five children.
Betty was a local business woman with a career managing and owning four successful restaurants in San Luis Obispo in her lifetime. First was the Little Chef with her father, then the Silent Woman, with all her family, the Laguna Village Inn, with her father and family working along side. Last was The Motel Inn, solely owned and operated with her husband, Milt Grau.
The restaurant business was her passion. She was devoted to it, working long hours with a strong work ethic that was an example for success. She worked every position as waitress, hostess including working after closing hours making special desserts for her service club meetings. Betty worked with ease, humor and grace to all. Along with all this, Betty hired many employees in their youth as their first job. Helping many others to get back on their feet, experiencing hard times. Betty was kind hearted and came from humble beginnings herself. Her motto was to treat others as you want to be treated.
Betty retired after The Motel Inn but found she was bored so joined every club available to keep busy. She also volunteered at the General Hospital Gift Shop and served on the Board of Hospitality as well as one of the buyers for the gift shop.
One day, while dinning at the Elks Club, she was asked to help serve a banquet as they were short handed. She gladly accepted, then called on her sister Carolyn, to help. That led to 10 more years of Banquet and Dinning Room Manager for the Elks Club.
She dearly loved her family and we all loved her. Losing her is heartbreaking and we are grateful for the memories we have gathered. We only wish we could make more.
Betty is predeceased by her parents, Carl and Alma Mathis, her sisters, Carolyn Outland, Barbara Kinney, Mary Morris, her brother Carl Mathis, Jr., her husband Milton Grau. Betty raised two children, her son, Robert Fagan, also predeceased, and surviving, a daughter, Susan Sweeney, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at Wheeler Smith Mortuary July 11, 2022 at 10:00 AM. Burial to follow immediately after, 11:30 at Los Osos Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks to consider donating to a charity of your choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Luis Obispo County Tribune on Jul. 3, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Betty Grau

9 Entries

Jennifer Fagan

April 3, 2023

Jennifer Fagan

April 3, 2023

Jennifer Fagan

April 3, 2023

Jennifer Fagan

April 3, 2023

Betty was my grandmother, her son Robert or Bobby was my father. I like to come by this page every now and then read the many stories and memories people leave. My grandmother was a unique wonderful woman she was a pioneer in that age for a woman to go from being a youngother to a woman owning several businesses. She taught me to always show respect to everyone no matter if they were homeless or a CEO. She had a huge heart for everyone but especially for those down on their luck. She never judged anyone but was always one to offer a hand in support. She was a feisty 94 year old lady let me tell you!! I'm still in disbelief how she went so quickly. I miss her long late night phone calls. But I know she is with her parents, her siblings, her husband milt , my father as well as my sister up there in heaven telling all the good stories. You are missed grandma and please keep an eye on us that are left here on earth. Love you forever and always..

Sharon Livesey

July 9, 2022

Sorry for your loss. My father Harold Livesey was a night bartender. My uncle Johnny Melin was grounds. I had many happy lunches by the pool.The motel Inn was wonderful.

Jean DuMong

July 9, 2022

Betty got me into catering while volenteering at the Elks with her. She asked me one day if I would do a party for her on my own as she was busy, I did it, and she was really impressed. Said why don't you go into catering? Than she hired me at the elks to work the floor for lunches. In the mean time I started my own catering, without her teaching me the hows, whats, do's and don'ts I would never have gotten started. She loved my lemon bars, and raspberry brownies and had me make them for a lot of her parties. Betty was a member also at the Eagles Lodge, where she talked me into volenteering to cook dinners twice a month before the aux. meeting. She really & truly will be missed by me and all the people she touched in her life time.

Aaron Morris

July 8, 2022

Many many memories with Betty. My grandma Mary and her were very close, so I got a first hand at all the many stories they told. She will be greatly missed, may she rest in peace with Milt and her sisters and brothers.

Patsy and Larry Todd

July 5, 2022

Betty was a great friend, I always remember her having a "soft-spot" for us rails. My wife Patsy really enjoyed working for her at the Elks.
She took care of virtually everyone, may she now rest in peace.

Les Morris

July 4, 2022

To Mrs. Grau's family, I am so sorry for your loss.
Please know that she is now with Milt in peace.

My parents, Dick & Joan, were friends with Betty and family. My mom worked with or for Betty as a waitress. Thank you Betty for hiring my mom.

I can remember spending many many nights in the Silent Woman bar or Motel Inn bar as a kid, with my parents when no baby sitter was available. Betty and crew kept the coke's, olive's, cherries coming while I watched TV or ran around the place full of sugar, while my parents did their "networking" at the bar. Many tall tales were told at each bar.
Later I was hired at Laguna Village Inn during my high school years.

Best Regards,
Les Morris

Showing 1 - 9 of 9 results