ELIZABETH HYDE

1921 - 2017

Elizabeth Hyde Elizabeth ("Betty") Doud Hyde died on July 25, 2017 at St. Anthony's Hospital in Gig Harbor, Washington. She was 96. Betty was a devoted wife to her husband of 72 years, William Beaton Hyde, who died in 2014. She was a wonderful mother to her daughter, Pamela Hyde Smith, and a loving grandmother of Catherine Ebert and Marian Smith. Pamela and Catherine were with her at St. Anthony's, along with Marian via technology, and a team of caring helpers. Elegant, warm, perceptive, generous, fair, fun and true, Betty was an enormous influence on her family and a cherished treasure to them and her friends. Her sense of beauty and taste moved her to create memorable, gorgeous homes and gardens. She was happiest cultivating the beautiful environments her talents made possible. Betty's sense of adventure sparked an interest in travel golfing vacations with her husband, explorations of Europe when visiting her daughter on her Foreign Service postings, and family trips of many kinds in the U.S. A life-long athlete, she excelled at tennis, golf and, during teenage years in Los Angeles, surfing. She also liked quiet evenings by the fire with her beloved dogs, a good book or needlepoint, and great musical voices in the background. Betty's parents, Sonia and Donald Doud, lived in Minneapolis when she was born and soon moved back to their roots in Tacoma. Betty attended The Annie Wright Seminary and later The University of Washington. She and Bill, childhood friends, married in 1942 and lived in Olympia until 1957 before moving back to Lakewood and then Gig Harbor. Betty cared deeply about Tacoma and supported many local causes, especially those benefitting disadvantaged people and animals, education and the arts. She was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church of Gig Harbor. Betty is survived by her daughter, Pamela Hyde Smith of Washington, D.C., her granddaughters Catherine Ebert of Washington, D.C., and Marian Smith of London, United Kingdom, and her great-grandchildren Graeme and Caroline Ebert and Alexander Montalbano. She was also close to her Hyde nephew and nieces, Charles Hyde III, Douglas Ann Land and Chris Lee. In recent years, a team of devoted caregivers Rachele Miller, Heather Goldsworth, Cathie Brown, Tawnda Davis, Katie Larson and Lurena Medlock helped her in many ways. A memorial service will take place at Mountain View Funeral Home in Lakewood on August 24 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Anthony's Hospital of Gig Harbor, Washington.