Betty Mae Winn Walker

Our Nana, Betty Mae Winn Walker, 79, returned to the arms of her loving husband, James “Jim” Russel Walker, on June 16, 2022 after impatiently waiting over 20 years for their joyous reunion.

Betty was born February 11, 1943 to Charles Elwin Winn and Betty Mae Barnett and was raised in Copperton, Utah. The oldest of five children, she spent much of her youth helping around the home, nurturing her siblings, and of course getting into mischief. Betty was always stubborn and strong willed; she wore pants under her skirt in grade school so that she could run and fight with the neighborhood boys on the way home where she was, more often than not, the victor. She attended Bingham High School and it was there she met Jim and many other lifelong friends. After graduating in 1961 she and Jim eloped on Dec 14, 1961. They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on July 23, 1963. Together they welcomed four children.

She loved her family fiercely and would do anything for them. She often went to great lengths to support any hobbies enjoyed by her husband, children or grandchildren. She attended countless basketball, baseball and football games, dance recitals, school plays, rock concerts, county fairs and debates. You could easily pick her voice out of thousands shouting a crowd. She enjoyed many family vacations, and even camping trips (begrudgingly), traveling as much as possible. Later on she implemented family paint nights, Saturday breakfasts at Jim’s Family Diner and nail days with her granddaughters where she loved to dish the latest gossip.

Betty had many hobbies. She was an avid book reader. If there was a book about Egyptology, true crime, or conspiracy theories, she owned it. Over the years she built up a respectable home library and if you could not find her, odds were she was at a used book sale. She always needed to keep her hands busy and made many dresses for school dances and costumes for Halloween and plays. She loved to crochet, cross stitch and quilt. She despised “fresh air and exercise” and considered Diet coke, popcorn and Wheat Thins her basic food groups. She considered it a true emergency if any were running low and would text her family “911” for a refresh of supplies.

Betty could accomplish anything she put her mind to and did not shy away from hard work. In her youth she worked as a lifeguard at various county pools and as an adult she worked for State Farm Insurance until her retirement. In these roles she made many enduring friendships. She often helped move irrigation pipe in the Walker Family fields, and on one occasion knocked down an exterior wall of her home because she wanted a window.

Betty is survived by her children, Jerry (Gina) Walker, Beth (Steve) Chew-Martinez, Connie (Chris) Harris and Kelly (Travis) Tabbal; her grandchildren, Dustin (Karleena) Chew, Alisha Martinez, Steven Martinez, Lexi (Kodi) Fagoaga, Dominic (Bonnie) Walker, Raquel Martinez, Eli (Erin) Walker, Amaia Harris, Ella Harris, Walker Tabbal and James Tabbal; her great grandchildren, Luis, Logan, Carmen, Scottie, Skyleigh, Steven Jr, Xavier, Vanessa, Axle and Anastasia; her great-great grandchild, Adelayna; as well as her siblings, Margie Nerdin, Chris (Steve) Maynard, Jane Robinson (Bryon Worthen) and Chuck (Marilyn) Winn; her brothers-in-law, Niel (Cecilia) Walker, Lee (Konda) Walker, in addition to countless nieces, nephews and friends. Preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her mother and father-in-law, Grace and George Walker; and her brothers-in-law, Jack Robinson and Jerry Nerdin.

The Walker Family would like to thank Stonehenge Rehabilitation of South Jordan, Sagewood Assisted Living in Daybreak and Canyon Home Health and Hospice along with most of their staff for caring for our Mom and Nana.

While our hearts are aching at the loss of our stubborn, sassy, giving and loving matriarch we know she is exactly where she wants and needs to be. We will miss her sarcasm, thoughtfulness and caregiving. She raised strong willed children, who in turn raised strong willed children. We expect her strong will and perseverance to live on in our family for many generations to come.

Funeral services will be held at the LDS Chapel at 12682 S. Starlite Hill Ln., Herriman, UT on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 11 am. Friends and loved ones may call at Goff Mortuary, 8090 S. State St., on Wednesday, June 29, from 6-8 pm or Thursday at the church from 10-11 am. Interment at Herriman Cemetery.