Betty Ann Barton passed away on January 1, 2017 from a brief but aggressive form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or ALS). She was at peace and surrounded by family.

Betty was born Betty Ann Kernan on July 10, 1932 in Vacaville, later moving to Napa, where she attended and graduated from Napa High School. She met her first husband, Don Mowrey, while both were working at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. During their marriage, they had many adventures around Northern California through Don’s work with California State Fish and Game, and California State Parks. They lived at Darrah Springs State Fish Hatchery (Red Bluff), Van Damme State Park (Mendocino), Benbow Lake State Recreational Area (Garberville), and Standish-Hickey State Park (Leggett). During these years, Betty was active in Square Dancing clubs, Eastern Star and Cub Scouts.

After Don’s death in 1975, Betty continued in Eastern Star, and by 2016 was a 65-year member, as well as Past Worthy Matron and Deputy Grand Matron for the State of California. She moved to Redway, where she worked at Jerold Phelps Community Hospital in Garberville, and later at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna as a medical transcriptionist. Prior to her retirement, she met the 2nd love of her life, Bill Barton. They were married July 24, 1999, making their home in Eureka. During the next 17 years, Betty and Bill traveled to the Panama Canal, South America, Tahiti, Hawaii, Alaska and Canada. When they weren’t travelling, they enjoyed hosting parties for friends and family. It was during this time that Betty became active in the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society, Elks Lodge #652, Emblem Club (women’s auxiliary for Elks Lodge) and Redwood Roamers Travel Group.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Neal and Frances Kernan, and her first husband, Donald Warren Mowrey, and by a daughter-in-law, Georgie Mowrey. She is survived by her husband, Bill Barton, by her sister, Barbara “Babs” Mastaw, and her children Brett and Toni Forrester, Alan and Leslie Mastaw and Brenda Forrester; by her sons Mark Mowrey and Dan Mowrey; by her daughter-in-law Linda Mowrey, and her daughter of the heart Debo Lowe; by her grandchildren, Don and Celina Mowrey, Jim and Angela Mowrey; by her great-grandchildren Mariah Miller, Kyler and Kalebh Hill, Caleb and Jackson Mowrey, Ben and Maya Schade, and Meghan and Gregory Mowrey.

Betty will be greatly missed by all. Friends and family are invited to attend the Celebration of Life on Sunday, February 5th at the Elks Lodge (445 Herrick Avenue, Eureka) from 1-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Humboldt or Eureka Rescue Mission.

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The obituary above was submitted by Betty Ann Barton’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residentsat no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.