CARMICHAEL, Betty R.

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, AZ May 11, 2005 Betty R. Carmichael Betty Carmichael, 74, of Cornville, died May 2, 2005, in Cottonwood. She was born in Akron, Ohio, on Christmas Day, 1930, and was immediately adopted by Fred and Irene Huber Carmichael. She was raised in Bath, Ohio, and graduated from Bath High School. She attended Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, where she found herself in trouble over exercising harness horses at the local track, as ''ladies do not drive race horses!" Betty's passion was horses and she felt very fortunate to have learned from her father, a World War I veteran, as well as many retired cavalrymen. In addition to her horse skills, she was a professional ballroom dancer for several years in California, and also managed several top class restaurants around the country. She was the founding coach of Stanford (California) University Equestrian Team. Her first show ribbon was earned in the 1930s, her last in 2004, at a local dressage show. She delighted in riding the non-traditional horse successfully in different events, such as her saddlebreds and appaloosas in open jumping and dressage, as well as sharing her knowledge of her art. She was very proud of having trained students who did well in many disciplines, from local shows to A circuits, to breed shows to trail riders, saddleseat to open jumping to western. Intensely interested in people, she rarely met a person she didn't like or quickly make into a friend. She is survived by a sister, four nieces and their families, all of California, and many, many friends throughout the country. A celebration of her life will be at her home in Cornville on May 21 from noon to 4 p.m. For more information call Nancy at 634-0952. Westcott Funeral Home assisted the family with these arrangements.