Betty Jean Haycock Craven

Betty finally got her wish and burst the surly bonds of mortality on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 three days before her 103 rd birthday. She was born July 4, 1922, the third of six children, to Shepherd Haycock and Nellie Vera Dalton Haycock, in Circleville, Utah. For years she thought the parades and fireworks were for her. Betty loved growing up in a small town where most people were related and there were the same eleven people in her class every year. Her only regret was never learning to swim. She graduated from Piute High School in 1940 and attended LDS Business College in Salt Lake City.

At the start of World War II Betty began work at Remington Arms, inspecting fifty caliber cartridges. She met the love of her life, Keith Bowen Craven while visiting her brother Hal in Provo, Utah. They were married April 28, 1942; Keith left for the war after five months. They were finally reunited over three years later. With Conoco transfers, Betty and Keith went on to live in Provo and Salt Lake City, Utah, Twin Falls Idaho, Ogden Utah, Spokane Washington and Billings Montana. Over the years they loved, sacrificed for and raised four devoted children. In retirement they enjoyed traveling and saw much of the world together.

Betty was a life-long faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was sealed in the temple June 29, 1950 to Keith and their children. She is survived by her children, Stephanie (Jim) Black, five children and fifteen grandchildren; Elizabeth (Chester) Smyth, five children and eight grandchildren; Martin (Elaine) Craven, five children and fifteen grandchildren; and JoEllen (Evan) Murray, six children and thirty-two grandchildren. Her family is her most treasured legacy. She is preceded in death by her siblings, Shepherd Hal Haycock, Phylis Haycock Simpkins, Francis Dalton Haycock, Van Martin Haycock, and Steven Mack Haycock.

She was a member of Lady Lions and Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and served in the Billings Montana Temple. Later in life Betty enjoyed reading, doing puzzles and crosswords, going to the movies, and playing Barnyard Rummy with friends. She will be remembered for her fabulous cooking, a great sense of style, and for being an optimist to the end.

Graveside services for the family are planned for August 23, 2025 in the Provo City Cemetery.