Elizabeth "Betty" Bailey

Elizabeth "Betty" Bailey died on October 14, 2025 in Millcreek, Utah, at the age of 103.

Betty was born in Nephi, Utah, to Heber Cyrus and Fern Riches Crane. Her childhood was spent in a small, 4-room miner's cabin that had been moved from Tintic, Utah. Betty remembered walking down to her dad's butcher shop at a young age to get meat for the noonday meal. When her father sold his butcher shop, he became a sheepman. She often went with him out to the grazing lands in the west desert. As a young girl, Betty loved to skate, climb trees and read. She loved swimming and playing tennis, often beating the boys who told her to "get off the court".

After graduating from high school, Betty went to San Francisco to work as a nanny. At the age of 19 she headed back to Nephi and worked at a cafe, saving money to move to Salt Lake City. She met her husband, Claron, on a blind date. When she opened the door, he asked, "Where are you?" He was surprised to find her a foot shorter than himself. Betty and Claron were married at their small apartment on 33rd South and Highland Drive in Salt Lake City. Her first child arrived 10 months later, followed by 8 others in the ensuing years.

She was a devoted mother and placed her children's needs and wants above her own. She took her children on camping trips, often by herself as Claron couldn't leave his growing drywall business. She became Claron's unofficial bookkeeper and worked hard over the years maintaining accurate financial records for his business.

Summers found her working hard in the family gardens, canning and freezing hundreds of quarts of fruits and vegetables. As a busy adult, she sewed a bit and continued to read whenever it was possible. Betty dealt with cancer, knee surgeries, a terrible car accident, and the loss of one of her children. Through it all, she believed that it was essential to keep plugging away despite what challenges came her way.

Betty is survived by her brother, her 8 living children, 35 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother, a sister, and one son.