Mary Elizabeth (Bette) Begley of Dumfries, VA born May 3, 1929 and died peacefully January 31, 2019 in Gulf Breeze, FL. Her husband of 47 years, Grant Allan Begley Sr., predeceased her in 1997. She is predeceased by her sister Margaret Jean Boyer Sanders.  She is survived by three sons (Grant Allan Begley Jr. and Peggy Wilkinson, John Robert Begley Sr. and Carrie Bell, William Scott Begley Sr. and Catherine Keegan), eight Grandchildren (Grant Allan Begley III and Heather Black, Helen Elizabeth Begley, Kathryn Begley Healey and Andrew Healey, Kimberly Begley Nelson and Lance Nelson,  John Robert Begley Jr. and fiancée Kerrie Shaw,  Megan Begley Irish and Sam Irish, Heather Begley Koegler, William Scott Begley Jr. and Ashley Pruszynski Begley), six Great-grandchildren (James Healey, Max Healey, Carter Nelson, Smith Nelson, Liam Begley, and Tristan Koegler [with three more Great-grandchildren due in Spring 2019]), one Niece (Deborah Sanders Peace) and two Grand-nieces (Elizabeth Peace Stearns and Alexandra Peace).

Bette was born in Philadelphia, PA the daughter of Warren Whitman and Elizabeth McAllister Boyer. She graduated from Chestnut Hill Hospital of Nursing in 1950 and that same year married Grant, who was in the Navy. They were stationed at Marine Corps Base  Camp Lejeune and lived in Richlands, NC for 10 years. In 1960 Grant and Bette moved to Dumfries, VA, where Grant was stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico. In 1974 Bette became the Visiting Nurse at Marine Corps Base Quantico for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, a position she held for 20 years until her retirement in 1994.

During her many years  in Dumfries/Prince William County, Bette was active in the Prince William County School System, serving as PTA President several times, as well as being a Booster Club supporter and 18 year member of the Vocational Education Board of Directors, now known as Career Technology. In addition, she was a member of All Saint's Episcopal Church, a 50 year member of the Calvin A. Lloyd Order of the Eastern Star, instituted a Volunteer Program at the Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle, VA,  was an active member of the Dumfries Board of Zoning Appeals, serving 18 years as its Chairman, and volunteered at the Prince William County Dumfries Library for 18 years. Bette enjoyed touring with the Prince William County Bluebirds, and always looked forward to her water aerobics at the Dale City Recreational Center.

Bette was honored to be a member of the Bill of Rights Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

A celebration of her life will be held in the Dumfries, VA area late summer 2019. The family will scatter the ashes of Bette and Grant Begley Sr. on September 9, 2019, their 69th wedding anniversary, off the coast of Fort Story, VA, their favorite vacation destination.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (www.nmcrs.org/donate).

Bette's family extends a special thank you to the staff and residents at Navarre Gardens and The Arbors of Gulf Breeze for helping with Bette's transition from Virginia to Florida. The friendships and professional care at both facilities allowed Bette, and her extended family, to spend priceless quality time together before she reunited with her beloved Grant.