Maryjane Elizabeth "Bettye" Bays

Maryjane Elizabeth "Bettye" Bays, aged 89, passed away peacefully on April 30. Bettye was born in Redwood City, California, to John and Anastasia (Foley) Bromley and was an only child. She received her RN degree from College of Notre Dame in Belmont. She met her husband, Richard Bays, in San Mateo and they were married in 1948. They moved to Willits in 1968, with their four children, making it their forever home.
Bettye was raised on a farm and loved animals her whole life. She was a member of Guide Dogs for the Blind, and later taught dog obedience classes, and was a 4-H leader in Willits.
She was very active and a vital part of the Willits community, volunteering thousands of hours. Bettye, along with her father John Bromley, helped establish the Willits Senior Center in 1978, and was the first senior outreach worker. She opened a teen center and teen crisis line in 1979 and she worked actively with Red Cross. Both Bettye and Richard were active in React and the Willits Public Safety Auxiliary for many years. Bettye also established a cancer support group after battling her own cancer in 1994, and also worked as a volunteer for Hospice and Willits Daily Bread. Bettye was the recipient of many civic and community awards Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1989, the Soroptomist Woman of Distinction in 1989, and was the Frontier Days Honorary Grand Marshall in 2004. Bettye and her husband were the first managers of the Willits Mini Storage.
Bettye was preceded in death by Richard in 1990 and her son Christopher in 2009. She is survived by daughters Cathy Ortiz, Bonnie Madrigal and Trish Bacci, 10 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please donate your time to one of many needy organizations in Willits, or send donations to the organization of your choice. Memorial services will be announced at a later date.