Betty Garrett Business Owner, 76 Betty Garrett, a 33-year resident of Twentynine Palms, died Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, following a long battle with cancer. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family. She was 76 years old. Betty was born April 30, 1934, in Oklahoma City to Fred and Caroline Brink. She graduated from Moore High School and attended Saint Anthony's School of Nursing. She married E. T. (Bud) Garrett in 1954, with their honeymoon being the drive from Oklahoma City to Twentynine Palms. The Marine Corps took them to many duty stations across the United States before bringing them back to Twentynine Palms in 1977. In 1972, she was selected as the USMC Military Wife of the Year. In 1960, Betty and Bud started square dancing, which they enjoyed together for many years. Betty assisted her caller husband in teaching classes in beginning square dancing as well as country line-dancing. They enjoyed a long association with both the 29 Palms Sand Shufflers and Yucca Valley Star Twirlers square dance clubs. As avid travelers and campers, Betty and Bud visited all 50 states (having camped overnight in all but one) and visited many different countries. In 1970, Betty began what was to be a 40-year career with H&R Block. She worked for Block in New Mexico, Hawaii and California. She and her husband have owned the Yucca Valley H&R Block office for over three decades and have had offices in Twentynine Palms (both in town and aboard the base). They currently own the office in Big Bear Lake as well. She was involved with the California Society of Tax Consultants for many years and was selected as Member of the Year for her many hours of volunteer work. Known as the consummate organizer, Betty arranged such efforts as Christmas luminarias candlelight displays for the entire Ben Hunter housing tract and elaborate family reunion events. She and Bud organized a moonlight picnic in the National Park for the local Retired Officer's Spouses for the past 27 years. Betty was renowned as an accomplished hostess who provided the chuckwagon for a desert racing crew and once produced a full course Thanksgiving meal for a large group of people from the kitchen of a travel trailer. And many neighbors in Twentynine Palms tell stories of the Garretts' famous bi-annual Christmas Coffee Party. Betty was well known for her volunteer work in many areas, serving on the boards of several charity organizations. She and Bud were recently recognized as Volunteers of the Year by the Basin Wide Foundation for their work with the Food for Life Ministry (Breaking Bread), where she served as treasurer for the past six years in addition to planning and cooking the meals at least four times per year in addition to Thanksgiving and Christmas. She was preceded in death by both her parents, her brother Fred Jr. (Sonny) and Sister Marie. She is survived by Bud, her husband of 56 years; brother Joseph Brink of Memphis, Tenn., and sister Ruth Straughn of Houston, Texas; children Kathy Garrett of Albuquerque, N.M., Barb and Gabe Garza of Indio, Chris and Rosa Garrett of Alpine, Shirley and Jeff Art of Twentynine Palms, and Greg and Leesa Garrett of Quartz Hill; grandchildren Kendra Claeson and husband Adam; Armando, Janny and Greg Garza; Natalie and Austin Garrett; Jeremy, Joshua, Jennifer and Shelby Art; Zachary and Nicholas Garrett; three great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. A vigil service and viewing will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17 at Wiefels Mortuary in Yucca Valley. Funeral Mass will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Catholic Chapel aboard MCAGCC Twentynine Palms. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to Food for Life Ministry, P.O. Box 282, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277.