Betty-Jo Birney

Born in Chewelah, Washington on May 13, 1924.
Departed in Palm Bay, Florida on June 29, 2018

Betty-Jo Birney, of Palm Bay, FL, passed away on Friday, June 29, 2018 surrounded by her family. She was 94 years old.

Betty-Jo was born on May 13, 1924 in Chewelah, Washington to Carson Thomas Peters and Letha Waters. The family eventually settled in Rice, Washington where Betty-Jo graduated as Valedictorian of her class from Kettle Falls High School.

She joined the United States Marine Corps in 1944, and served as a corporal during World War II. While she was stationed in Bremerton, Washington, she met John Donald Birney who she married on June 15, 1946. John and Betty-Jo raised their 5 children in Massapequa, New York. They retired to Florida in 1982.

Betty-Jo is survived by her children, Susan Rudmann and husband, Edward, Dan Birney and wife, Mary Anne, Terry Birney, William Birney, John Birney and wife, Gail, 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, and her sister-in-law Lois Peters. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Birney, her infant son, Thomas Birney, her brother, James Peters and her parents.

Betty-Jo lived her life with kindness, compassion, gratitude and love. She was a devout
Catholic and was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Palm Bay for many years. She was devoted to her family, and more than anything she loved the family’s frequent gatherings. She was an example of love, faith, and selflessness to her family and all who knew her. She enjoyed traveling, reading, baking, needlework, knitting and crocheting.

Visitation will be held on Monday, July 2nd from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Brownlie-Maxwell Funeral Home on Palmetto Avenue in Melbourne. A Mass celebrating her life will be held at 1:00 pm on July 3rd at the Miller Street Church in Palm Bay.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to Promise in Brevard.

1 entry.

Eileen Skahill from CORTLANDT MANOR wrote on October 2, 2019:

While belated, I just learned of Betty-Jo's passing and have no next of kin information in our membership database, but wanted to acknowledge her passing. Sincere condolences from the members of the Women Marines Association. “If the Army and the Navy ever looked on Heaven’s Scenes, they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines.” (3rd stanza of the Marines Hymn). Take comfort in knowing your beloved Marine has left this life to take up her rightful place in Heaven’s detachment. The Women Marines Association is dedicated to preserving the history of our veterans. We continue to build a diverse collection of uniforms, photos, papers and other artifacts donated by our members and their families. If you have items you would like to know more about or would like to have your loved one memorialized by donating items to the collection, our Historian, Nancy Wilt, would be happy to speak with you. She can be reached at: Nancy Wilt, WMA Historian, Curator of the Women of the Corps Collection, PO Box 633, Hunt, TX 78024, Phone: 830-238-3893, or [email protected]. Eileen Skahill National Chaplain [email protected]