Betty (Elizabeth Nock) Brown

Betty passed away peacefully at home on July 4, 2021 in the presence of Bill, her husband of 55 years, and finally became “independent” of the dementia which had severely limited her activities in the last few years. She was born on October 18, 1942 at Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley, 3 days after Bill, to her parents Tom and Bea Nock. After unknowingly sharing the hospital nursery, she met Bill “for the 2nd time” on a blind date at UC Davis, where they were students, following her graduation from San Ramon High School. She graduated from Davis with a degree in Food Technology, then put it to good use as a food researcher, customer service representative, and as a member of Diablo Home Economists and most importantly as the master chef and chief economist for Bill and their two boys.

In addition to raising their sons Tim and Jeff, and teaching the neighborhood kids how to find and capture snakes and lizards in Lafayette open spaces, she was heavily involved with their schools and their multiple sports and activities.

She also devoted a great deal of time and effort as a volunteer with many local and state organizations including serving on the Board of the California Parent Participation Nursery Schools, and the Assistance League of Diablo Valley. She was especially instrumental in the founding and continuing support of the Family Stress Center nonprofit organization (now STAND!).

She shared her love for travel with the family, whether dragging two teenage boys through the English countryside, touring the great cities of Europe, swimming with giant cod on the Great Barrier Reef, or watching a pride of lions survey the savannah from 15 feet away: she always enjoyed exploration.

She was also heavily involved with the LafayetteOrinda Presbyterian Church (LOPC) and served two terms as a Deacon for the church and volunteered in many other capacities, and especially enjoyed social activities with the Ketch and Explorers social groups.

She will be terribly missed by all those who knew and loved her. She is survived by Bill, their son Tim (Connie) and their grandchildren Andrea (Drea), Dean, and Alec, and brother-in-law Dick (Pam) Brown and sister-in-law Bonnie (Steve) Olson and their children. She was preceded in death by her parents and her oldest son Jeff.

The family owes a huge debt of gratitude to Gillian Notman and the wonderful caregivers from Home Care Assistance as well as the nurses and staff of Hospice of the East Bay for their compassionate care during Betty’s final months.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, August 2 at 2 PM at LOPC. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations in Betty’s memory may be made to STAND! for families free of violence, to LOPC, or to another charity of your choice.