Betty de Beque of Carbondale and Queen Valley, Ariz., died Tuesday, March 4, 2003, in Queen Valley. She was 81.

She was born Nov. 12, 1921, in Carbondale to Dr. O.F. and Effie Clagett, original settlers on Missouri Heights.

In 1923, the Clagett family moved to Rifle. She graduated from Rifle Union High School in 1939.

She graduated from the University of Denver in 1943, and taught school in Center and Grand Junction.

She married Wally de Beque on May 26, 1950, in Carbondale.

She continued to teach in the Roaring Fork Valley and taught children of all levels. She was involved in many school organizations and was active in the community, serving for several years on the Carbondale Planning and Zoning Commission. She was also active in the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, serving as president for a year, and in other service organizations including P.E.O. and the Rebeccas, through which she volunteered for several years at the Near New Store. She was a choir director at the Carbondale Methodist Church and was instrumental in establishing the Tri-County Medical Clinic.

In 1974, Betty and niece Mary Lee Mohrlang opened The Calico Cat, a popular and successful fabric store located on Main Street in Carbondale.

Betty loved music and was an accomplished vocalist as well as playing piano, violin, clarinet and saxophone. She was an avid bridge player, loved playing golf and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

Since 1995, she and her husband spent winters in Queen Valley, Ariz.

She leaves behind her husband of 52 years, Wally de Beque of Carbondale; sons J. Robert Davis of Paonia and John Davis of Queen Valley, Ariz.; daughters Sally de Beque Smith of Erie and Michelle de Beque of Carbondale; a sister, Eleanor Reed of Grand Junction; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place and, at Betty’s request, no memorial service is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Betty’s name be made to the American Lung Association.