Betty Ann Turner Morgan, 100 plus 4 months, a resident of Anacortes, died Saturday, January 30, 2021 at home with family present.  Betty was very calm and peaceful as she passed away with the singing of Amazing Grace and In the Garden.

Betty was born September 10, 1920 in Mount Vernon, WA, the middle child of Grace Smitham Turner and Roderick Dhu Turner.  Betty attended Fidalgo Elementary, the Columbia School, and graduated from Anacortes High School in 1938 and San Diego State College in 1942 with a BA in education.  In 1946, her parents introduced her to the love of her life, Earl Morgan, a navy flyer, assigned to VPB 135 Squadron, Whidbey Island Air Station.  Earl was cruising around Fidalgo Island with Navy friends, stopped at the Turner's Similk Beach Oyster plant, and R.D. Turner asked if they would like to earn some cash and pick oysters for the afternoon.  Earl and friends agreed.  Earl was the most motivated and impressed R.D. with his work ethic.  Grace, Betty's mother, appeared on the scene, and then invited the 3 Navy flyers to dinner with her daughter.  Betty and Earl began dating, became engaged, and were married on August 16, 1947 in Mount Vernon, WA.  Earl then joined the family businesses, while Betty taught 4th grade at Cleveland School in Mount Vernon, WA, the current site of the Skagit Valley Fairgrounds, for seven years.  In 1950 she resigned her position to begin her family and take a more active role in Turner's Similk Beach Oyster Company and the Similk Beach Golf Course.

Betty's entire life revolved around her family's activities at Similk Beach.  She had work responsibilities at an early age. Her parents bought the surrounding beach property in 1927, moved permanently up from Long Beach, CA,  and created the Similk Beach Development Corporation.  This included starting Turner's Similk Beach Oyster company, building the original 9 holes of the golf course in 1930, and then expanding it out to 18 holes by 1955,  Betty's family also developed and sold lots for summer cabins so county residents could enjoy Similk Beach; the boat cafe along the pier, the restaurant serving oyster dinners and homemade pie, the bowling alley, tennis courts, horseback riding, picnic and swimming areas.  Upon her brother's death, James Turner in 1953, and R.D.'s death in 1957, Betty daily assisted and supported Earl in the running of the oyster and golf enterprises.  She was devoted to maintaining Earl's health and caring for her mother in Grace's later years.  Betty was a talented golfer with a graceful backswing and enjoyed tennis.  Betty was resilient facing life's challenges.  The family thanks Team Betty for their considerate, generous, and loving care.

Betty was actively involved in her daughter's lives.  Beth and Lori fondly remember their mother leading Summit Park Brownie and Girl Scouts, joining in Fidalgo PTA responsibilities with the carnival and Halloween costumes, creating elaborate birthday parties to be enjoyed by the Morgan, Stevens and Trulson girls with scrumptious birthday cakes, vacationing each August at Harrison Hot Springs, and delicious dinners every night.  Betty was a member of the First Baptist Church since the late 1950's, volunteering for AWANA for many years, decorating the sanctuary with flowers on Sunday,  and on the board of Christian Education.

Betty is survived by her two daughters and their husbands: Beth Morgan-Cleland (Tom) Lori Yandle (John); her grandchildren: Christine Cleland-McGrath (Travis), James & Tausha Yandle; her great granddaughters: Cora Cleland McGrath and Morgan Turner McGrath all of Anacortes; close friends: Peggy Dedolph and Dorothy Schimpf of Redmond; cousins: Carole Smitham Hopkins of Everett; the Phillips-Ritchie-Misner cousins of La Conner; the Fisher cousins: Dennis, Sam, and Mike formerly of Mount Vernon; Dr. Les Miller of Tampa, FL: and Steve Miller of Scottsdale, AZ;   nephew, Ken Morgan of Fenton, MO; and niece Marilyn Ewing of  Northridge, CA. She was preceded in death by her father R.D. in 1957, mother Grace in 1975, brother James in 1953, baby brother Paul in 1938, beloved sister-in-law, Dorothy Morgan in 1993 and her beloved husband, Earl in 1997.

Memorials are suggested to the Anacortes First Baptist Church or a charity of your choice.

To share memories of Betty please sign the online guestbook at www.evanschapel.com