CONLEY, Bettie Jane

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Thursday, January 25, 2018, page 5a Betty Jane Conley, 64, born Aug. 18, 1953, in Phoenix, Arizona, died Jan. 16, 2018, in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Arrangements entrusted to Ruffner-Wakelin Funeral Homes and Crematory. Sign the online guestbook at www.ruffnerwakelin.com. ------------------------------- Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home, Prescott, Arizona Bettie Jane Conley 2/3/1923 - 2/13/2010 Bettie Jane Conley February 3, 1923 February 12, 2010 Bettie Jane (Johnson) Conley was born February 3, 1923 in Kimball, South Dakota to Charles J. Johnson and Laura Mae (Will) Johnson. She attended grade school and high school in Kimball, graduating in 1941. From there, she went to a Business College in Rapid City and worked for the U.S. Civil Service in Washington, D.C. In 1942, she transferred to Seattle where she married her high school sweetheart James Dwain (J.D.) Conley on March 5, 1943. They returned to Kimball in 1946 and became the owners of Kimball Dairy. After a couple of years of life on the farm, Bettie Jane joined Stanley Home Products, Inc. To her, hosting Stanley parties and recruiting new dealers would be an easier way to make a living - better than milking cows! Soon after joining, she convinced her husband to come on board with Stanley- this led to a 25 year sales career. Stanley took them from South Dakota, to North Dakota. Then joining Stanley’s foreign sales department in Calgary Alberta and Vancouver British Columbia. Back to the USA in Phoenix Arizona and ending In Waterloo Iowa. At age 49, Bettie Jane and J.D. purchased a Mom and Pop motel in Prescott, Arizona. This was a bit of a change from the sales work she was used to! Missing interacting with people and the sales bug she had acquired working all those years in Stanley, led her in a new direction, real estate. It didn’t take much convincing from her husband (already in real estate) to stop making beds and start selling houses. In 1974, she became the first woman to be hired by the Pauley and McDonald Realtor group, and in 1979, J.D. and Jane started A-Action Realty. Real estate was so much more than just selling houses. It opened doors to many opportunities and Jane embedded herself within the Prescott community. She was an active leader in the Soroptomist Club helping with fundraising activities. She was also active in the Prescott Chamber of Commerce where she was a founding member of the Prescott Ambassadors. She was a member of the Clarets Club of Sacred Heart Church, and was the Charter President of the Prescott Noon Lioness Club. She was a passionate member of that organization and served as President three times. Being involved in her community was one of her greatest pleasures. She loved to socialize and could usually be heard laughing wherever she went. Bettie Jane was nonstop her entire life she was even given a charm for her bracelet engraved too busy and don’t have time (but she was always on time) but to those who knew her and worked with her, she made time. When she did take time to relax, you would probably find her playing cards, crocheting, reconstructing clothes, or baking. She loved purses, shoes, and the color purple. She never threw anything away if you needed ANYTHING, she probably had it in her purse! Grateful for having shared her life with husband J.D., daughter Melanie and husband Robert Nuttall of Scottsdale, AZ and granddaughters, Ragen and Brandi, grandson Todd, great-grandson Julian and great- granddaughter Izabel; Son, Michael and wife, Debby of Waterloo, Iowa and granddaughters Melissa and Heather, her husband Eric Lukes of Stewartville, Minnesota, great-granddaughters Isabelle and Lily; Daughter, Marilyn and husband Bill Carney of Prescott Valley, AZ and granddaughter Jessica and grandson Jacob; Son, Mark and wife, Patricia of Prescott, AZ and grandson Ruston James; and Sister-in-law Ellen Johnson of Livermore, CA. She was preceded in death by her brother Donald M. Johnson of Livermore, CA and granddaughter Ragen Nuttall of Scottsdale, AZ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Good Samaritan Hospice a nonprofit organization at 1030 Scott Drive, Prescott, AZ 86301-1741 Viewing at Wakelin Family Funeral Home Friday, February 19th, 303 Cortez St., Prescott, AZ. (928) 445-2221, Family; 4:00 - 5:00 pm, Friends; 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Vigil Scripture Service with Tony Humphrey 7:00 pm Mass Service, Saturday February 20th, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 150 Fleury St., Prescott, AZ 1:00 pm. The celebration of Bettie’s life will continue from 3 to 5 p.m. at Hassayampa Inn, 122 E. Gurley St., with family and friends invited.