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Portrait of Betty Jean Clouse (Lara)
In loving Memory

Betty Jean Clouse (Lara)

December 22, 1945 – August 3, 2021
Lived 75 years
Mt Pisgah · GILLETTE, Wyoming
YOUR WINGS WERE READY, BUT OUR HEARTS WERE NOT!🤍🤍
Life story

Betty was a lifelong Gillette resident, born 2nd out of 12 to Ben and Rose Lara,(Jaramillio). She was surrounded by family in life, and also in death. Her daughter, Raylynn is buried next to her. Her other daughter is also nearby, LaVonn.

Betty followed the previous 2 generations before her, and was employed at the Goings Hotel, along side several of her sisters and an aunt. All of the family would always stop in, we knew there was always someone to visit. 4th of july parades was a gathering spot right in front. When Danny Butler closed the doors on the Bar, the entire family was treated with free drinks all night.

Betty became , the "Matriarch " of the Lara clan. They came to her, and she did absolutely anything she could to help out. She had taken in several children (nieces and nephews) , for she would never allow them to be with non family. She had a love for children, specifically her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Betty was married to her best friend for many years. Together, with their kids and their kids friends, they enjoyed camping in the Big horns, and vacations with her family. She especially loved the holidays she spent with her 11 siblings and parents. They loved getting together, celebrating and playing poker. She was especially close to her sister Dixie and Brother Billy, who tragically died in 1975.

She fought so hard to live, everyone swore she had 9 lives. Her will to live got her thru a heart attack,heart bypass surgery, a resuscitation(x2) on OR table, 2 bouts of lung cancer, a long history of diabetes. On an early Morning in August, she finally gave up the good fight. Her death has left us empty, and we miss her dearly everyday.

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The world Betty knew

Family milestones in gold, history for context

1945
Born December 22
1945
Betty Jean Lara is born , the 2nd of 12 to Ben and Rose Lara
1947
Betty was 2 when Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier
1954
Betty was 9 when the Supreme Court struck down school segregation
1963
Marries Robert Leonard
1964
William Duane Leonard
1967
Birth of LaVonn Marie Leonard
1968
Birthday of Eddie Dean Leonard
1969
Buffy Jean Leonard is born
1969
Betty was 24 when the Woodstock music festival opened
1971
Betty was 26 when Walt Disney World opened in Florida
1975
Divorces Bobby/marries Bill Clouse
1975
Adopted Raylynn Louise Leonard
1982
Betty was 37 when "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" opened in theaters
1997
Betty was 52 when "Titanic" opened in theaters
2007
Betty was 62 when the first iPhone went on sale
2014
Betty was 69 when the Ice Bucket Challenge went viral
2020
Betty was 75 when SpaceX launched astronauts into orbit for the first time
2021
Passed away August 3, age 75
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Buffy Leonard 83w

A tribute from her aunt vivian

Although vivian was bettys aunt, they were close in age. As teenagers until Betty's passing they remained close. Vivian is one of 2 left of the jaramillio kids. "It's lonely without everyone" she dearly misses my mom, as she was the last Lara kids still living in Gillette.

Photo shared by Buffy Leonard
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