Betty Jean McGee
October 02, 1942 -- July 15, 2026
Betty Jean McGee
Betty Jean "B.J." McGee died on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, after a brief and sudden illness. She was born on October 2, 1942, in Monte Vista, Colorado, to Jack and Claudia McGee. She moved with her family to New Mexico in 1961. Betty was known for her work ethic. She had many jobs, sometimes more than one at a time, including working for many years at First National Bank of Belen and later Walmart.
In her younger days, Betty and her sister Marjory belonged to the weaving guild Las Aranas. They participated in the Taos Wool Festival and the New Mexico State Fair for many years, demonstrating the numerous steps in the processing of wool from fleece to the final woven items, known as "from sheep to shawl." She and Marjory expanded their processing and weaving expertise to include wool from alpacas. They also served as mentors and chaperones for the Methodist Youth Fellowship during the late 1970s.
In more recent years, Betty devoted her time to her job, her vegetable garden, and her beloved dog, Mr. Pepper. She finally retired after she turned 80.
Betty is survived by one brother, Sam McGee of Wheaton, IL, and six sisters: Kathy Larison of Leola, PA; Dorothy (Bob) Ashmore of Beverly, MA; Jackie (Kevin) Loretto of Albuquerque, NM; Sherry Pettigrew of Clovis, NM; Marilyn (Cleve) Teague of Portales, NM and Gigi Pfeiffer of Timnath, CO, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Marjory McGee and Millie Gromatzky.
A memorial is planned for later in the year.