OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. – Betty Lou Walker, 92, born Oct. 5, 1930, sometimes called Betty “Boop” or Betty Lou will be remembered as a classy, likable lady who was both tough and strong. She died April 9, 2023.

Independent to the core, Betty started out life as one of six children of Mary and Clarence Langley in Caribou. Although the story we always heard was she was the descendant of an Indian princess and an English lord, that was not quite true.

As a young adult, Betty traveled and lived in Georgia, Florida and California before finally settling down in Standish. Betty lived there with her husband Larry and her children on a 60-acre piece of land called Westwood Farm. She churned butter and ice cream the old-fashioned way. She was a marvelous cook, sometimes using the wood cook stove to bake bread. Betty had a love for animals, she had a Mynah bird, Charlie, that talked telling people to “come in” when no one was at home. Charlie learned to imitate Betty’s laugh, regardless how serious the occasion always made you smile. She had a BAD cat with no tail named Felix. He made her laugh when the cat hid and attacked toes of any unsuspecting person. She also had horses which she loved to ride, winning blue ribbons at horse shows often.

After Larry died Betty met Russ Boothby. They spent many happy years together in their home in Gorham. They spent time in their gardens, on their boat on Sebago Lake and in Fort Myers, Fla., their winter home. When Russ died, Betty moved to Windham with her papillon, Georgia aka “the Favorite”. Betty enjoyed visiting with family especially her sister, Evelyn, and her close neighborhood friends. Most recently, she moved to Mississippi to enjoy the warmth of the weather and stay close to her son and grandchildren in the area. She died peacefully in her sleep on Easter, and is reunited with her daughter and son, Susie and Tony, husband, Larry, boyfriend, Russ, her mom and dad, all of her siblings and granddaughter Angel.

Betty’s humor and love for life made her fun to just be around, she would make you feel special just to be with her. We were blessed to learn many things from her, both true wisdom and common sense. For example, “don’t lend money you can’t afford to lose” and if she said “hit me” jokingly, DON’T, her little dog will bite you right on the behind!

She was both generous in spirit and action. Betty gave her widowed mother a home with her for over 40 years and was also known to take in a niece or a nephew as needed. She was thrifty but was known to give to those in need if she could help. She touched many lives, and we are all better for knowing her.

She is survived by her sons, Michael, Paul; grandchildren Lisa, Michelle, James, Michele, Michael, Jada and Darlene; and by her many great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews. She will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be held Friday, June 2, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Dolby Blais Segee 434 River Rd. Windham. Graveside service will be at 4 p.m. at Dow Corner Cemetery, Standish.

In lieu of flowers, make a random act of kindness to someone in need, in her

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