WEST, ELIZABETH "BETTY" GORDON - Elizabeth "Betty" West died peacefully at lvany Place on January 27, 2013. A resident of Bedford, NS, Betty was born in Saint John, NB, on January 11, 1925 the daughter of Cecil F. West and Lesley E.H. (Grant) West. She is survived by her brother John (Jack) G. West (Joan Guy), Bedford, NS; nephew David (Lynne) of Fredericton, NB; niece Carol of Bedford, NS; grandnieces Victoria, Rebecca, and Madeleine and grandnephew Grant, Fredericton, NB. Betty, following her graduation from Havergal College, Toronto, 1943, joined the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRENS). Upon completion of her service, Betty travelled to London, England, where she worked for the Canadian Department of Labour and was presented on June 12, 1952 to Queen Elizabeth II as a New Brunswick debutante working abroad at Her Majesty's first presentation party - one of Betty's most cherished memories. Returning to Canada, Betty joined the staff of the Saint John Museum which was the beginning of her life's work taking her to Toronto, Augusta, Maine, and finally to Parks Canada in Halifax. As registrar, she received recognition for creating a new system of cataloguing artefacts which was adopted right across Canada. Betty retired in 1988. Betty enjoyed her home, gardening, travelling, her pets, and many friends.
Following cremation, she will be buried in the family plot in Fernhill Cemetery, Saint John, NB. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Betty may be made to the Alzheimer Society or charity of choice.