Betty Welton

Betty Jane Welton passed away peacefully on March 19th, 2025, at the age of 78. She was born in West Lafayette, Indiana on September 19, 1946, to Howard and Mildred Evans. She was married at the age of 19 and had her first and only child, her daughter and best friend Denise.



Betty moved to Arizona in 1969 and started her career in the Sports Information Department at Arizona State University. While working and raising her daughter, she also studied and received her degree in Public Programs from ASU in May 1983. In 1988, she took a position with the ASU Foundation as Director of Annual Giving. After four years, she redirected her incredible fundraising ability to her ultimate love of animals. In 1992, she took a position with the Phoenix Zoo as Director of Individual Giving, and was there for seven years before accepting the position as President and CEO of the Arizona Animal Welfare League in 2000 (where she had been a volunteer many years prior). During her tenure with AAWL, adoptions increased over 100% and she oversaw the acquisition and management of the Arizona SPCA. Her position and passion for animal rights also allowed her the opportunity to work on Maddie's Fund in Maricopa County, a Pet-Rescue Foundation aimed at building a no-kill nation for animals.



After a devoted career with AAWL, Betty felt compelled to take a step further in her commitment to animal welfare by starting Healing Hearts Animal Rescue in 2005, her own non-profit dedicated to the rescue of abused and neglected horses and farm animals. Betty and her life-long friend David Hoffman opened a ranch in Willcox, AZ where Betty personally lived for two years and cared for at least 10 horses on her own. Healing Hearts eventually moved to Cave Creek, AZ, allowing Betty to focus on fundraising.



Throughout her life, Betty remained a devoted mother, grandmother and friend. She wasn't prejudiced towards a single soul and always provided a place for those who needed it (people and animals). Betty attended Word of Grace where she gave her life to Christ and was baptized by her son in-law and friend Tim in 2003. She also attended Mission Community Church with her family and volunteered her time for several years.



Betty is survived by her daughter Denise (Tim) Miles of Mesa, AZ, and sister Carolyn Sweet of Bloomington, IN, and brother Jean (Joanne) Evans of West Lafayette, IN, and two granddaughters - Andi (TJ) Brooks of Mesa, AZ, and Taylor Miles of Los Angeles, CA, and four great grandchildren. Betty is preceded in death by her menagerie of pets she rescued throughout her life: Beauty, Bonnie, Fiesta, Brady, Norton, Zeik, Lucy, Wyatt, Biscuit, Mable, Lucky, Ginger, Willcox, Ariel & Annabelle, Rafiki, and many other dogs, cats, tortoises, rabbits, birds and guinea fowl. She loved ALL animals, and they loved her back. Her life was filled with so much joy, and she didn't need anything but the unconditional love of her family and pets.

We would like to thank Class Act Assisted Living and her primary caregivers Aries and Harvey who deeply cared for her during the last few years of her life. In honor of Betty's dedication and compassion for animals, we are requesting that any donations be made directly to Healing Hearts Animal Rescue at https://healingheartsaz.org so that her incredible work may continue. 1 Cor 2:9