Betty Irene Lancaster

BETTY IRENE LANCASTER Betty Irene Lancaster, longtime Cortez resident, was born November 10, 1930 in Quail, Texas to Ruby and Claude Daves. She passed away at Baptist Village in Surprise, Arizona on December 1, 2008 at the age of 78. Betty shared 54 happy years with her husband Jess Lancaster. She worked alongside him at their warehouse business in Pleasant View for many years and later became a licensed realtor in both Colorado and Arizona. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Emblem Club and Cortez Chamber of Commerce. She took great pride in her family, working endless hours to make sure pants were creased and shoes were clean. Her doors were always open to nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, none of whom ever went away hungry. She and Jess retired to Wickenburg, Arizona in 1999. While at a family reunion in Colorado, Betty contracted West Nile virus in September of 2004, from which she never fully recovered. She was a wonderful wife, mother and friend, and will be greatly missed. Surviving Betty are her husband Jess Lancaster of Wickenburg, Arizona; daughter Brenda Gamblin of Council Bluffs, Iowa; son Sam and wife Ronda of Pleasant View; son Doug and wife Norma of Yuma, Arizona; and daughter Natalie Sundermeier and husband Tony of Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition, she leaves behind nine grandchildren, Danielle Cisney of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Marcus Cisney of Phoenix, Arizona, Brandan Lancaster and wife Kelcey of Durango, Lindsay Cressler and husband Dakota of Aztec, New Mexico, Rachel Lancaster of Temecula, Calif., Trish Stanmore and Megan Meza and husband Freddie of Yuma, Ariz.; and Taylor and Nate Sundermeier of Scottsdale, Arizona and eight great-grandchildren Deana and Derek Lancaster, and Walker, Chorbin and Gaige Cressler; and Heather Lancaster, Michael Stanmore and Jake Meza. Surviving siblings include her sisters Doris Walters of Grand Junction and Melva Smith of Dolores; and her brothers Dick and Dean Daves of Cortez, and Don Daves of Clovis, New Mexico. She was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Ruby Daves, granddaughter Sarah Melissa Lancaster, and grandsons Justin Cody Lancaster and Derek Sam Lancaster. Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home and will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, December 8, 2008 at the Cortez United Methodist Church, with interment to follow at the Cortez Cemetery. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to your favorite hospice organization.