Obituary: Betty Jane Gulliver

Betty J. Gulliver  (January 6, 1946 – March 25, 2023)

Betty Jane Gulliver, 77, of Clarklake (and Palmetto, Florida) passed away from cancer, March 25, 2023, at Manatee Memorial, Bradenton, Florida.

Betty’s family and friends will gather for visitation Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 4 to 7pm at Eineder Funeral Homes — Brooklyn Chapel and Friday, June 2, 2023, from 10 to 11am at Brooklyn Presbyterian Church. Her funeral service will be held at 11am on Friday, June 2, 2023, at Brooklyn Presbyterian Church, 160 N Main St, Brooklyn, Mich. Pastor Tami Recob will officiate.

Betty was born on January 6, 1946, in Trenton, Michigan, to Henry and Marion (Skidmore) Steward. She married her college sweetheart, Ted Gulliver, whom she met on a blind date at Western Michigan University, 55 years ago. She will be remembered as having lived a wonderful life. Betty attended Wyandotte Roosevelt High School where she was homecoming queen in her junior year. She earned her degree in Special Education from Western Michigan University where she belonged to the Delta Zeta sorority. Betty was like a mother to her special needs’ classroom, using her great personality to make her classroom one that the students loved. She had a knack for working with her classes. She took her “kids” to Michigan’s first Special Olympics, held in Kalamazoo in 1969. She continued to volunteer for the Special Olympics for many years. Her personality helped make her a good wife, a caring and kind mother who had a terrific sense of humor, and was a good role model. Betty continued to play in a golf league that started in Manchester over 60 years ago. She helped bring back the Columbia Central High School musicals and produced them for many years, providing another place for the students to learn and excel. Betty even acted in a few plays at the Potter Center with her husband and daughters.

She made it fun for every group she was part of, such as her book club (who actually read the books); she volunteered with the local Red Cross for a time; she belonged to the Red Hat group and The Universalist Unitarian Church of East Liberty; and she looked forward to Thirsty Thursdays and the comfort of old friends. She and her husband spent much of their recent years as caregivers for each of their two daughters. She was known to be a very kind and good friend. In her later years, she found a special “family” at her Winterset home in Palmetto, Florida, where she loved to lead the decorating of the clubhouse for Christmas and to line dance. Betty was truly loved by all who knew her; and her brilliant, constant smile with eyes that truly sparkled will be greatly missed, especially by her husband, Ted.

Betty is survived by her loving husband, Ted; sister, Marie (RC) Wallace; mother-in-law, Nina Gulliver; sisters-in-law, Christine (Keith) Pople and Charna (Bob) Welch; brother-in-law, Gary (Debbie) Gulliver; nephews, Mike Vick and Mark (Tammy) Vick, John Welch, Keith (Blerina) Pople, Zach (Kim) Gulliver, Nick Gulliver; and nieces, Laura (Devin) Benford, Kim (Chad) Porter, Alexis Gulliver, and Jessica Gulliver. She is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Marion Steward; and daughters, Anne Reed and Katie Clark. She will be remembered fondly by so many more, including the residents of Florida’s Winterset Resort and Clark Lake, along with scores of Michigan friends and her extended family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Universalist Unitarian Church of East Liberty, 2231 Jefferson Rd, Clarklake, MI 49234 or Educational Foundation for Columbia Schools, P.O. Box 126, Brooklyn, MI 49230. Please leave a message of comfort for Betty’s family or sign her guestbook at www.EinederFuneralHomes.com.

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.