Elizabeth R. Coleman

Elizabeth R. “Betty” Coleman, of Bainbridge Island, died peacefully at Harrison Hospital in Bremerton on April 9 surrounded by her husband Bill, daughters Bonnie and Cherry, and one grandson.

She was born on Oct. 11, 1922 in Seattle to Kathleen and Arthur T. Barnett. She graduated from Seattle’s Broadway High School, where she met her husband to be, and then attended the University of Washington until she enlisted in the United States Coast Guard.

Stationed in St. Louis, she was in the Drum and Bugle Corps and involved in recruiting.

She was married in May 1944 at her mother’s home on Seattle’s Queen Ann Hill; she flew in from St. Louis and her husband from San Francisco. After the war, they moved to Los Angeles and then to Long Beach, Calif., where they raised their family and opened a photo studio, where Betty did oil coloring.

After the sale of the studio in the 1960s, she worked at Van’s Shoes followed by several other jobs. The couple retired after 47 years and returned to their honeymoon cabin on Bainbridge Island, which they stayed at during every vacation.

Betty loved to play the piano, sing, cook, entertain and read her many cookbooks. She was a member of First Church of Christ Scientist in Boston, The American Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary, and a member of the Evergreen Singers.

She is survived by Bill, her beloved husband of 64 years; daughters Bonnie Robertson of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Cherry Coleman of Aurora, Colo.; and grandchildren Brad Bedford, Erin and Russell Robertson, and Jeffrey, Cody, Andy and Katy Ray.

A memorial service will be held at noon April 22 at the American Legion Hall, 7880 Bucklin Hill Rd., on Bainbridge Island.