Betty Jean Atkins, born Betty Jean Curavoo, age 81, passed away at Porter Hospital on February 26, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born on May 10, 1944, in Hinesburg, Vermont.
Betty graduated from Bristol High School and later married the love of her life, Robert Floyd Atkins of Lincoln, Vermont. They shared 42 wonderful years of marriage filled with hard work, laughter, and devotion. Together they moved to Atkins Road in Lincoln to help care for Robert’s mother and support the family farm. They later became caretakers of the beautiful Mountain Meadow Farm in Lincoln, where Betty proudly cared for the many animals, including peacocks, swans, and both large and miniature horses.
One of Betty’s greatest joys was spending time with her granddaughters when they were young. She loved driving them around the farm in her truck, letting them pet the animals and help with feeding. In later years, one of her proudest accomplishments was being able to purchase the very farm she had once helped care for.
To know Betty was to know her spunk and sass. She was a hard worker who faced life with strength and determination, despite the physical challenges she carried after having polio as a child. She will be remembered for her humor, quick wit, and sometimes wry comments. When once asked by her future daughter-in-law if her son Mark was named after Mark in the Bible, she quickly replied, “Heck no, he’s named after the TV show The Rifleman’s son!”
Her laughter, resilience, and loving spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. The family would like to say a special thank you to the Addison Home Health community for their care and compassion over the past several years, and to Melanie and John for always letting her give you a hard time with a smile.
Betty was predeceased by her beloved husband, Robert; her parents, Fredrick and Gladys (Duprey); and her brothers Sonny, Alfred, Wayne, and Larry.
She leaves behind her cherished son, Mark, and his wife, Stephanie Atkins of Lincoln; the two loves of her life, her granddaughters Alexis Bell and her husband Jake of Litchfield, Maine, and Brooke Smith and her husband Brian of Waltham, Vermont; her remaining brothers and sisters Fred, Barry, Kay Ann, and Susie; as well as close friends whom she loved like sisters, Patty Short, Kathy Taylor and Lise Lathrop.
Family and friends are invited to an open house celebration of Betty’s life at Burnham Hall in Lincoln, Vermont, on Saturday, March 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will be a slideshow, refreshments, and time to share stories. Please come to laugh, cry, and remember her together.
