VON GAUSIG, Elizabeth (Betty) Miller

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, AZ Tuesday, August 10, 2010 Elizabeth Miller Clark Von Gausig 1916 - 2010 October 15, 1916 – August 3, 2010 Elizabeth (Betty) Von Gausig, age 93, died on August 03, 2010, in Prescott, AZ, at the Granite View Adult Care Home. She was born in Rehoboth, NM to Howard A. and Elizabeth Sawyer Clark, who were then Presbyterian missionaries located at Ft. Defiance, Navajo Nation, AZ. Betty spent her early childhood on the Reservation where she learned to speak the Navajo language and was given the name “Kihaniba,” meaning “Peacemaker.” Upon her father’s transfer back to New Jersey, she finished her schooling at Bridgeton High School graduating in 1934. She attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL for two years. To earn funds to finish college she took a job teaching 5th grade on the Navajo Reservation at Toadlina, AZ. She eventually earned her BA degree in Education in 1938 from Arizona Teacher’s College (now NAU.) She earned her MA and furthered her education with classes taken at ASU, NAU, San Diego State, Pepperdine College, and UC San Diego. She even took what could have been the first “cyber” classes in the 1940’s through a radio broadcast from the UofA. Her first certified teaching job was in Safford, Arizona where she met her husband, Douglas Clyde Von Gausig and where their five children were born. She taught elementary grades in the Safford Public Schools, and then opened the Graham County School for the Handicapped, grades 1 through 4, in her home, and later Safford’s first kindergarten. Over her 40-plus years of teaching she taught in public schools in Safford, San Diego, Cardiff, Solana Beach, and Oceanside, CA. The family moved to Prescott in 1958 where Betty taught elementary school at Dexter, Miller Valley and Taylor Hicks Schools, eventually becoming a district-wide reading specialist. Her final teaching position was at Oak Creek Ranch School, near Sedona. She was an accomplished homemaker who taught her children to love reading, music, cooking, photography, picnics, and world travel. During her teaching career she also helped Doug with their business ventures which included Von’s Grocery Store in Solana Beach, CA, the Western Auto Store in Prescott (until the “Big Snow” of 1967,) and Mabery Associates insurance in Cottonwood. Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, her brother Dr. David H. Clark, and grandson Nathan Curry. Her survivors include her five children: Georgia (Gary) Jost, Linda (John) Turner, Jane (Jack) Orr, Douglas (Becky O’Bannion) Von Gausig, and Deborah (Rob) Curry, 19 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren; also her siblings: Dr. J. Philip Clark, Lois Harper, Mary Clark, Dr. George Clark and Rachael Davenport. Hampton Funeral Home arranged for her cremation. She requested that there be no formal services. Her ashes will be scattered by her family at a later date. Betty’s children wish to thank the staff at Granite View Adult Care Home for the beautiful love and care their mother received in her last months. Information is provided by her children.