Bettie-Jo Hackford

Bettie-Jo Hackford, 94, passed away on October 2, 2024, after a beautiful fulfilling life. She was born in National City, California, on April 23, 1930 to Robert Clair and Vera Cotton Spargur. She was the youngest of five siblings. As a child, Bettie-Jo had rheumatic fever, and other illnesses, which caused her to miss a lot of school. As a result, she never learned to read, but was keen enough to convince most of those around her, including teachers, that she could. 

During World War II, her family moved to Ogden, Utah where her father worked as a civilian at the Ogden Defense Depot for the war effort. It was there she met her cowboy, Sharon Willis (known as Shay) Hackford. She always said she knew he was the real deal because his cowboy boots were muddy and worn. They later married on August 11, 1947 and had 3 sons. After they married, Shay realized that Bettie-Jo could not read and he quickly set to teaching her. She was an excellent pupil and honed the skill, learning as an adult to love reading, especially old westerns. 

Bettie-Jo was especially skilled at the card game Sluff. There was nothing she would enjoy more than playing a few hands on a Sunday, around the table with her children and grandchildren. In her later years she was quick to put together a puzzle, but in her younger years she was a fierce softball player. Bettie-Jo enjoyed travel. She was afraid of water since she was a kid, but in her 60s she learned to swim. She could be seen at the pool doing water aerobics well into her 80s. 

Bettie-Jo’s husband, Shay, preceded her in death on June 27, 1992, after more than 40 years of marriage. She was also preceded in death by her parents, all her siblings, and one son, Donald Robert on November 16, 2022. She was the matriarch of our family, and the last living of her generation. She is survived by two sons, David Willis (Laura) Hackford of Roosevelt, and Douglas Edward (Karen) Hackford of Vernal. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many others whom she claimed as her own. 

She ended every letter she ever wrote with the valediction “forget-me-not,” a hand-drawn flower, and her name. So with that, you will always be remembered Bettie-Jo. 

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 12 noon at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary with a viewing held 1 hour prior at the Mortuary.

Burial will be in the Tridell Cemetery.