Betty Jean Shaskey

Betty Jean Shaskey died December 27th, 2013 at Madrone Hospice House from rapidly progressive Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 90. She was born October 12th 1923 to Harold and Jeanette Fry in Salina, Kansas. She grew up in Salina, with 1 sister, Lorraine. All of her relatives were wheat farmers in Kansas, and she would tell stories of her grandparent’s farm. Betty met Eugene Shaskey in 1946, after World War II, at the Air Force base in Salina. They were married shortly thereafter. They lived in many places during their Air Force years- Denver, Colorado; Biloxi, Mississippi; Baltimore, Maryland; Wichita, Kansas; Syracuse, New York; London, England, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. After retiring from the Air Force in 1961, they settled in Los Altos, California. Over the years they had 4 children, Norman Shaskey of Yreka, Sharon Tochilin of Anaheim Hills, Christal Duncan of Yreka, and David Shaskey of Salt Lake City. Betty was a homemaker and raised four great children. Betty and Eugene eventually moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and then to Fullerton, California, where Eugene passed away in 1994. Betty married Peter Mathur, whom she met at a senior center dance, in 1996. They enjoyed many years of dancing together, but had their differences, especially as Alzheimer’s hit them both, and they divorced in 2011. After that Betty moved to Yreka and lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Christal and Mike Duncan. Betty’s interests were Contract Bridge, of which she was a Life Master Player, and Ball Room Dancing. She was also an avid reader. She loved her children and her life was mostly spent raising her children and then spending time with them and their families. She loved the Lord, and raised her children to love the Lord as well. She attended the Yreka United Methodist Church. She is survived by her four children; 7 grandchildren- Maria Russell of Montague; Brian Tochilin of Orange, CA; Christopher Rosenlund of Chicago, IL; Laura Shaskey of Kern County, CA; Cedric Shaskey of Salt Lake City, Utah; Christina Shaskey of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Olivia Duncan of Yreka; and also 3 great grandchildren. A small family only service will be held. She will be buried at the Riverside National Cemetery next to her husband Eugene Norman Shaskey.

Betty Jean Shaskey

October 12, 1923 - December 27, 2013