Margaret Mayo

Our beloved Mom, Grandma, Grandma Great, passed away on October 7th in Cypress, Texas, nine days short of her 100th birthday party. Margaret Betts Mayo was born on October 16th 1925, in Bountiful, Utah. She was the youngest of six children born to David Samuel and Iris Reid Betts. Her older siblings, Delbert Betts, lreta Taylor, Eddis Reid Betts, Emmett Betts and Loie Stewart, always claimed that she was spoiled, that she hadn't lived the farming life that they had experienced.

Margaret was raised in North Salt Lake, Utah, during the Depression, when money was short, but love was plentiful. In her words, "Our neighbors were almost like family and we knew everyone for miles around". She attended South Bountiful Elementary School, Bountiful Junior High School, and Davis High School. She played the clarinet in the high school marching band.

After High School Margaret attended LDS Business College, and it was there she met a soldier with curly auburn hair, Francis (Frank) Mayo, from Brooklyn. Frank shipped out and as Margaret wrote, "I pinned away until I received a letter, the first of three years of writing." Margaret joined the USO and "did her patriotic duty by dancing with the soldiers".

Margaret was working at the Federal Reserve Bank, when Frank was discharged and they were married in North Salt Lake on March 22, 1947.

Frank and Margaret are the parents of six children, Katherine Albertson (Paul), Maureen Pack (Stirling), Kevin Mayo (DeAnn), Patrick Mayo (Pam), Franette Green (Doug), and Michael Mayo (Troy Burden). They lived in Bountiful, Utah until 1966, when Frank's new job took them to San Mateo, California, then moves to Arlington, Virginia, Naperville, Illinois, Florence, Kentucky, Sandy, Utah, then finally to Cypress, Texas.

Margaret was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter­ day Saints. She was proud of her pioneer heritage. Her grandparents were pioneers who traveled to Utah by foot, wagon, and handcart and helped "to make the desert blossom as a rose". She served as a teacher in the Primary, Sunday School, and Seminary organizations. At the age of 89, she was asked to be a teacher in the Young Women's organization. This came as a great surprise to her. She and her husband served

as missionaries in the London East Mission.

In Kentucky Margaret volunteered with the Women's Crisis Center and worked with children in the Magic Circle Program. In Sandy, Utah she joined the Bridges Program and spent two days a week for ten years helping second graders improve their reading skills. She received special recognition from the school district for her efforts. She loved being an in-school grandmother.

Margaret was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and the Daughters of the American Revolution. For many years she was a member of the Lion's Club Ladies Auxiliary. Margaret was a quiet, kind, patient, unassuming women and was loved by many.

She was preceded in death by her husband, five siblings, and one grandchild. Her six children, 21 grandchildren, and 50-plus great grandchildren mourn her passing, but rejoice in her release from earthly cares.