Bette Patricia Meyer, born January 25, 1933, to Margaret and Kenneth Meyer in Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania, was an only child who found joy in playing the piano, reading, and creating art. She spent part of her early life living with her grandparents, Ray and Elizabeth, until a polio vaccine was produced.

As a young woman, Bette led a remarkable life as a professional ballroom dancer, psychiatric nurse, wife, and mother. She was most proud of her father's work as a sculptor, her time editing a psychopharmacology book, and her years as a dancer.

During the height of the AIDS crisis, Bette sat beside and cared for men who were dying, offering comfort when many others would not.

She was preceded in death by her sons, Guy L. Martin and Bixford L. Martin. She is survived by her daughter, Leia; granddaughters Melanie Rose and Kyndra; and seven great-grandchildren: Kai, Adrian, Elijah, Gabriel, Lexi, Kanton, and Sevin. She also remained close to her former husband, Ray Gariepy, with whom she shared a deep and lasting friendship for 50 years.

Bette spent her final years living with her granddaughter Melanie before moving to Homestead Health Center. She passed away on June 11, surrounded by family.

In lieu of flowers, Bette requested that donations be made to amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) in her honor.

A celebration of life will be held at Melanie's home on Saturday, June 14, at 7:00 PM. A funeral Mass will follow the next week at St. Anne's Catholic Church, with details to be announced.