Ida Elizabeth ''Betty'' Spears transcended this life at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2006.

She had just returned to her home in the care of her daughter and Hospice after the Christmas Holidays. She had been at Lourdes Hospital prior to her return. She was a resident of Richland for 63 years.

Betty was born on August 19, 1921, the youngest of 5 children, on her family's farm in Fairview Community, Arkansas.

She was raised in the farming community and spent her youth learning to be a wife and homemaker, but her happiest moments were when she was singing gospel music and playing guitar at her Country Church.

When she was 16, her brother Sam returned home after some years of travel. He and his best friend, Ernie Spears, had left Arkansas during the depression to find work. She was down on the river swimming with a group of young people. Although they knew each other, she had only been 11 or so when Ernie had left. It was love at first sight. Soon Ernie was attending the Church services and escorting Betty and her chaperone, sister Loureatha home for Sunday dinner.

They were married on September 23, 1940 and left soon after for Detroit and a job with DuPont Chemicals. This led to them being sent to Oak Ridge, TN and subsequently to Hanford in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project.

She lived her life being a wife, a homemaker, raising her children and loving God and Southside United Protestant Church. Some of her happiest times were spent turning out meals in the kitchen of the church with her best friends Isabel, Lois and Ruth. She loved to help put on the annual church rummage sales and the pot luck dinners were never missed.

Having grandchildren and great grand children were the highlights of her later years, and she was always brightest when they were near. Each new child was greeted with much love and pride.

They had 2 children, a daughter Mary Kathryn ''Miki'' Rose and a son, Gerald Wayne ''Jerry'' Spears. Both attended Richland schools from Kindergarten through graduation from Columbia Richland High School.

She is survived by her loving family, her daughter Mary Kathryn, her son Jerry and his wife Cathy, her grandsons Marcus, Devyn and Kevin, her granddaughter Alexa and her great grandchildren Dakota, J axon, Benjamin and Ra'llyn, her niece Carlene and her nephews Russell and James.

Graveside services are being held at Einan's Sunset Memorial Gardens 915 Bypass Highway at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, January 14, with a celebration of her life at 12:00 p.m. at Southside United Protestant Church.

All are welcome to attend either ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Hospice House, Kennewick so they can continue to give such wonderful support and guidance to families and to provide a safe, loving, beautiful and peaceful alternative to those making their final transition.