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Betty Louise O'Connor October 2, 1926 – June 14, 2023 Betty lived to be 96 years of age. She was most known for the fact that she played tennis until she was 90 and that she was so independent including still driving and shopping. She was the matriarch of her family. Betty was Solera Tennis players' guru. She moved to Solera in 2004 and started giving lessons right away. She was patient, caring, and generous to all of us. She moved to Oceanside in October of 2017, to live with her granddaughter, Anne Clark, who brought her back here to celebrate our annual Christmas luncheon at Beverly Crowe's house. She was involved in politics, and her husband Joseph ran for Congress and the Assembly. She wrote letters to a President, Vice President, governor, senator, mayor, chancellor of University of California, chief of police, and newspaper editors. She was quoted in the newspaper for issues she fought. She was the fourth child of five and lived during the great depression. She married her high school sweetheart in 1941. They had two children, JoAnn in 1943 and Dennis in 1946. Dennis was killed in the Vietnam War in 1967. Betty was born in Minnesota and then moved to Iowa and finally to California. Her husband served in World War II and the Korean War where he also became a pilot and finished his military career in the Army Corps, Air Force, as 1st Lieutenant. Joe died in 2011 after 70 years of marriage. Later in life, Betty opened hair salons where she became a hairdresser. Betty was very philanthropic and contributed every year to many non-profit organizations, especially those involving children and the military. Betty is survived by her daughter JoAnn of Beaumont, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces. Many of Betty's family members and friends attended a celebration of Life for Betty on Aug. 19 at Calvary Chapel in Beaumont. ~ Shirley Ferguson TENNIS TITANS REMEMBERING BETTY LOUISE O'CONNOR | LIFE IN SOLERA | SEPTEMBER 2023 | 47

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