Betty Bird Obituary

Betty B. Bird You are our Sunshine  Betty Buchanan Bird a truly elect lady, passed away quietly on September 17, 2004, much too soon for everyone who knew and loved her.  Betty was born March 25, 1941, the fourth of four daughters to Ruth Smith and David Alexander Buchanan in Salt Lake City, Utah. From birth, Betty was immediately good at everything she attempted, from her perfect penmanship to her skills in the kitchen, to the family scrapbooks she lovingly crafted, there was nothing she couldn't do well. Betty was educated in the public school system, developing her love of education there. She attended Bryant Jr. High, and later East High School, where she met her future husband, (unbeknownst to her at the time) Gary Bird. After high school she attended BYU, and later graduated from the University of Utah cum laude with a degree in education. She taught elementary school for five years, before retiring to raise five wonderful children. Motherhood is what Betty did best, and she spent her every waking moment making sure that her children knew just how much she loved them. She enjoyed watching them excel in all the different stages of their lives. Betty loved music, singing and playing the piano and made sure she sang often with Gary as they did the dishes or other tasks around the house. Their home was a wonderful place to be when there was music around. She was a wonderful dancer, and caught Gary's eye at a dance after they had both graduated from high school. It didn't take long before they were filling each other's dance card, eventually marrying in the Salt Lake LDS temple in 1967. Betty was a lifelong and steadfast member of the LDS church and enjoyed many years of service in every possible calling. She especially enjoyed Primary and spent time as the President, working hard to make every Sunday special. She was a longtime member of the South Cottonwood 2nd Ward and greatly loved her ward family. Her testimony and love of the Lord guided her actions as she treated everyone with respect and compassion. She was a friend to everyone and enjoyed getting to know new people. She will be fondly remembered for her positive outlook on life, her appreciation of life's blessings, her service to others, her humility and inner strength, her elaborately hand-made scrapbooks, her ability to sew anything without a pattern, her collection of cookie cutters and music boxes, cross-stitched temples and wall hangings, and her recent home addition for her family to gather in, finished one day before her passing. Even though she was in great pain in her later years, one would never know it to be around her. She simply enjoyed life and was quick to laugh and smile. As she was taken from us much too soon, we are thankful for having had this remarkable woman be part of our lives and encourage all who knew her to carry on her legacy of kindness and joy.  She is survived by her sisters, Janice (Bill) Edwards, Marlene (Bernard) Harpole, Lois (Milt) Zigich; her loving husband of 37 years, Gary Howard Bird; their children: Brian (Lisa), Julie, Brent (Lillian), Melinda, Kristen and four and a half grandchildren, Aiden, Maia, Emma, Jacob, and a new addition next April.  Funeral services will be held Friday, September 24, 2004, at 12 noon, So. Cottonwood 2nd Ward, 981 East 5600 South (Revere Circle). Viewing will be held at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East, 1300 South, Thursday 7-9 p.m. and Friday at the ward from 11:00-11:45 a.m. prior to services. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests you hug your children and let them know that you love them, "a bushel and a peck!"