Betty Ann was born on Saturday, January 5, 1936 in Ripley, Ontario to parents George and Helen (Nicholson) Cornish. She joined brother Lloyd “Buster” and sisters Isabelle and one who died in infancy. The Cornish family farmed just outside of Ripley, with Betty attending both public and high school in town.
Shortly after completing school Betty met Joseph “Allan” Gammie at a community social event. The couple enjoyed a short courtship and were married on August 14, 1954 in Ripley. The young couple made Walkerton their first home together, as Allan was working for Bruce County Highways at the time. Their family soon began to grow as Brenda joined them in 1955, Murray in 1957 and Cathy in 1959. The Gammie family soon moved to a farm just outside of Arkwright for a period of time before making their final move to Paisley in 1967.
Once the kids headed off to school Betty headed back into the workforce. She was employed in the produce department at both the Paisley and Port Elgin Grocery Stores. Apparently, Betty had another full-time job too, as per her son Murray, and that was looking after her two daughters! 🙂 Betty also stayed busy curling and was an executive member of the Paisley Curling Club. When her health did not allow her to participate any longer, Betty would always try to watch her favourite sport on TV. She was also a true “hockey mom” and spent countless hours taking Murray and his friends all over the countryside. In their younger years, she and Allan organized and ran the Young Peoples Group at the Arkwright United Church. Betty also enjoyed baking for the fall fair and who could forget Bingo! No week was complete without at least one night out playing Bingo. Betty was known to have also played the piano and the couple travelled quite a bit with the Gypsy Campers over the years.
Betty enjoyed any family get-togethers and always considered her children and grandchildren her first priority. As with most moms, she was very caring and always worrying about her family. She was known to be a fairly quiet individual, yet witty with a wide range of friends, from her friends from church, Arkwright, camping or Bingo, Betty always would run into someone she knew. In her spare time she enjoyed going for Sunday drives, collected spoons for a period of time and don’t forget TV and music. She was fond of Celtic music and enjoyed partaking in the Scottish Festivals in Kincardine over the years. When it came to TV, curling was always her number one choice, often followed by programming like CNN (what was Mr. Trump doing now?) as well as the older shows and movies from her younger years.
Who could forget the three Betty’s? Betty Rae, Betty McCutcheon and of course herself. They were introduced through their husbands who all worked together at the County. Over the years, the six spent a lot of time together. On one occasion, Betty’s children recall where mom and Betty Rae were to be making a homemade chocolate dessert, which had a form of alcohol as a ingredient. Needless to say, I think the two consumed more alcohol than baked with and were in fine form when the kids returned home. As you can well imagine Betty and Allan were very close and did many things together when Allan’s job would allow it of course. In addition to their camping they did some travelling through Canada and the US. It is understandable that Betty took Allan’s death in 1993 at the young age of 62 very hard. She was a widow at the young age of 57.
Over recent years Betty’s health declined. She was often frustrated, as we would all be, on the limitations her poor health put on her. She did however learn to adapt and tried to make the best of every day. Sadly, Betty passed away in the loving presence of her family at South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Walkerton on Saturday, June 10, 2017 in her 82nd year.
Beloved wife of the late Allan Gammie. Loving mother of Brenda (Dennis) McTeer of Paisley, Murray (Barb) of Ennismore and Cathy (Stewart) McLaren of Paisley. Betty will be missed by her grandchildren Tasha (Dave), Trevor (Trish), Jody (Greg), Devon (Celina), Joleen (Brian), Shawn (Emma), Jennifer, Tyler and great-grandchildren Brett, Courtney, Natalie, Dakota, Justine, Jacob, Jordan, Dylan, Grace, Kalyn, Tegen, Avery and Leyna. Betty was predeceased by one brother and two sisters.
Visitation will be held at Knox United Church, Paisley (399 Goldie St.) on Tuesday from 7 – 9 p.m. where a funeral service celebrating Betty’s life will be held on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at 11 a.m. Interment in Douglas Hill Cemetery.
Memorial donations to Walkerton & District Hospital Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
Miss Me But Let Me Go
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me,
I hope you will realize
My pain at last is free.
Miss me a little…but not too long
And not with your head bowed low,
Remember the love that we once shared
Miss me…but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take
And each must go alone,
It’s all a part of a master plan
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart
Just go to some friends you know,
Try burying your sorrows in some good deeds,
Miss me… but let me go.
