Betty Lorraine Tuckey D'Arcy Caudell

On this day 89 years ago, a baby girl was welcomed into the world.  A few years later this young girl walked across the fields to school and a few more years later she went farther away to business college.  Just about that time a new college was being born and they needed her and her skills to serve as the secretary for the new president of the new college. And so that young woman went even farther away from home to became the first student at Bethel College and to serve as President Goodman’s secretary.

And then she married a man with two little boys. 

And then I was born.  

And then my little brother was born.

So many times through the years, there were people who needed her.  She worked in numerous roles of service. She cooked meals for hired men and boys and huge groups of teenagers. 

She drove a school bus transporting kids to and from the old one-room school. 

She served as receptionist and assistant for a local doctor. 

She organized and served dinners for countless families in their grief of losing a loved one.  She welcomed and loved people every Sunday through the years. 

Yes, she loves people.  

People of all ages.

She is a GREAT grandma. 

And she is Grandma Great.

She baked thousands of loaves of bread and millions of cookies to feed the kids and grandkids of the world.  

She made chocolate-covered cherries and other sweet confections  to give as gifts and treats and eventually to sell at our Christmas tree farm.  Grandma Betty’s hand-dipped chocolates were famous across the country.

Through the years, in times of scarcity or plenty, she was adept at making something special from what was available.  When the money was scarce, she was an expert at somehow putting together enough to feed a group of hungry teenagers.  

Speaking of expertise, she was indeed the bread-baking expert of her world.  People of all ages asked her to teach them the art of making bread like she did.  

And even in the years when she no longer had access to

her “professional” kitchen equipment because she had given them all away, she was still able to bake rolls and other yummy treats for the residents where she lived.

What an amazing life!

What an amazing woman!

What a privilege to be your daughter!

Happy birthday, Mom.