Betty Ann Bay

Betty Ann Bay, 93, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in Fort Collins, CO.
A memorial service will be held at a future date in San Diego, CA and she will be buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery along side her husband, Mike, who was in the U.S. Navy during World War II and whose remains are buried there.
Born in Trenton to Rex and Lela Elledge, Betty graduated from Trenton High School. At age 19, she began her career in journalism as the editor of the Trenton Republican-Times. In 1948, she married Michael Bay Jr, the son of Michael and Marie Bay, also of Trenton. Betty received a bachelor of science degree in home economics and journalism from Iowa State University. She proceeded to have a remarkable career for a woman of her time. She spent several years as an associate editor of “Better Homes and Gardens” magazine before moving to Washington, D.C., where she was the director of state and local programs for the federal Office of Consumer Affairs. Betty was personally responsible for a nationwide program of bringing the benefits of the Consumer Affairs department to all the states. She created a quick credit guide for people to learn how credit works, which was available at all post offices for many years. Betty was also instrumental in getting care instructions put on tags in clothing. Some of her work is at the Harvard Radcliffe Library, which specializes in women’s studies.
She continued to use her creative writing abilities after retirement, when Betty and her husband, Mike moved to Brownsville, TX, where she wrote the book “Historic Brownsville,” a fundraiser for their library. After moving to San Diego, she published a fundraising cookbook for Meals on Wheels, which received a national award. She also served on the board of the Friends of California Libraries and was a lifelong member of the Methodist church.
Betty moved to Fort Collins in 2012 after the death of her husband, and in 2014 she was selected as one of 41 Northern Colorado Super Women in the Fort Collins “Mind and Body” magazine. She constantly encouraged her great-nephews and nieces to pursue their creative expression in following their personal career paths. Betty will be remembered for her witty sense of humor, her original poetry and her love for her husband and extended family.
She is survived by a brother-in-law, Carroll Bay of LaGrange, IL; and two nieces, Mary Carroll (George) Dougherty of LaGrange and Michelle (Art) Hunter of Fort Collins and their families.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and two brothers-in-law, Ovid Bay and Webster Bay.
Memorial donations can be made to First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover St., Fort Collins, CO 80524 or Meals on Wheels, 1217 E. Elizabeth St., #11, Fort Collins, CO 80524.