On September 21,1966, marked the world’s first gratitude day. While calendars are filled with so many specific days throughout the year, this one is special. Of course, I am very grateful to those who support this website to allow me to share the fascinating history of this part of California.. There is, of course, so many wonderful people who believed in me in all these years of research, and some went the the extra mile.
One individual, out of many, was Betty Barry Deal (1921-2017). Betty was born in Reno, Nevada to Hardin “Finn” and Edith (Elledge) Barry. She graduated from Lassen High in 1938, Lassen College in 1940 and in 1955 she was admitted to the California State Bar—and went onto an interesting legal career.
One of Betty’s passions was genealogy. Both her maternal and paternal sides were woven into the history of this region from its earliest days. This was how I became to know Betty and and had a wonderful friendship for decades. From time to time, she would send me copies of her family history, as she quipped as earthquake insurance since Betty resided in Alameda.
Betty’s family from the earliest days had a penchant of saving everything. When Betty poured through a box of items, the items she did not want she sent them to me to examine. Some I kept, and the others probably should have discarded years ago. More importantly, she encouraged and supported me over the years with my historical research and writings. She was a most delightful person, for which I am grateful to have had her in my life.
Tim
Thank you, Tim, for this lovely remembrance of my mother. She was so very fond of you – she talked about you and your work all of the time.