Fairbairn, Betty Grace

Betty Grace Fairbairn - age: 85
(January 05, 1936 to June 24, 2021 )
Resident of Ukiah, California

Obituary:
Bette Grace Fairbairn was born in Stockton, California January 5, 1936 and went to heaven on June 24, 2021. Her family moved to Mendocino County when she was five and she would spend the rest of her life primarily in Hopland and Ukiah.
She graduated from Hopland High School in 1954 and soon after went to work for the Mendocino County Library and Superior Court. Her “can do” attitude and happy demeanor were constants in her life. She enjoyed working and took pride in doing exemplary work.
In 1956, she married Robert (Bob) Fairbairn and that union would last 55 years until Bob’s passing in 2011. During their early years, they were busy building a family and farm. The family farm aptly named “Fairview” would be there home for almost 50 years. They raised their two children there and both agreed many years later that their time on Fairview was magical.
Bette was active in the PTA at Hopland Elementary School and in the Ukiah High School FFA program. She supported and cheered on her children in everything they did- she would always say you can do it. She carried on that same tradition with her beautiful granddaughters, who she championed everything that they wanted to accomplish.
She loved roses and thanks to her husband they were planted around the perimeter of the family home. She loved to entertain, cook and read countless magazines on decorating. Many holiday dinners included up to 25 people, because if someone didn’t have a place to go, Bette would invite them over.
She loved people, and truly never met a stranger. She loved to laugh, was warm, accepting, loving and nurturing, all of which she generously shared with others.
Later in life she decided to volunteer her time at the Grace Hudson Museum. She was an avid reader and was intrigued and fascinated by the life of Grace Carpenter Hudson. That volunteerism would lead to a permanent position with the museum. She loved working at the museum, meeting patrons, donors and supporting the mission and preservation of the museum.
Bette had a wonderful life and while the family will miss her, they are comforted in the fact that she and husband Bob are together again.
She is survived by her son, Wes and wife Jan Fairbairn; daughter, Katie Fairbairn; grandchildren Amanda Phillips (Jarrod Morgan), Becky and Jacob Lawson, Sara Fairbairn (Chris Mangino) and great grandchildren Clayton and Calvin Lawson and Nellie Mangino. Brother Albert (Cheryl) Ames niece Nancy (Mike) Moak, nephew Mark DeMatteo (Sandra), cousin Wilma (Joe) Leather and beloved childhood friend Ramona Abert. She was preceded in death by her husband Bob Fairbairn, in-laws C.O. and Frances Fairbairn, parents Albert and Evelyn Ames, and sister Yvonne Decker.
A graveside service will be held at the Ukiah Cemetery on Friday, July 9 at 11:00 a.m.
Donations may be made to Shanel Valley Academy, formally Hopland Elementary,
Mendocino County Historical Society and Grace Hudson Museum