Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Cantrell of Sun City, AZ formerly of Lovington, New Mexico has passed at the ripe old age of 94 years, 7 months and 2 days. Born June 7, 1929 in Montgomery, Alabama and died January 9, 2024 at the Peoria Post-Acute and Rehabilitation Center in Peoria, AZ.

She was the 9th and youngest daughter of the 10 children born to of Albert Gregory Wilkinson and Maebelle Aldridge. She is survived by her sister Amelia Surles of Odenville, AL and brother-in-law Kenneth Cantrell of Phoenix, AZ.

In 1947 she married Barney L. Spear and they had two daughters; Sarah (Jim) Banks of Sun City, AZ and Bonnie (Louis) Hanna of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

In 1972 she married Jerry Wayne Cantrell who preceded her in death in 1997. With this union she got 4 bonus children. Anita (David) Davis of Washington, OK, Gayla (Jerry) Mathews of Artesia, NM, Gary Cantrell of Claremore, OK and Becky Lemley of Hobbs, NM.

And all of these kiddos blessed her with 11 Grandchildren; 7 Great-grandchildren; 8 Great-Great-Grandchildren. And of course, coming from such a large family she is survived by 13 nieces and 6 nephews and hold on to your hat 166 great, great-great and great-great-great nieces and nephews. (Whew!)

Mom, Grandmother, Aunt Betty, Granny Betty was a homemaker, a drug store clerk, a school bus driver, an aide at a rehabilitation center and one of the very best seamstresses around. She made wedding dresses and attendants dresses for numerous weddings in her life. She knitted, crocheted and did beautiful pieces of counted cross stitch. When she was a young woman she worked in a Payday Candy Factory and would never let another Payday cross her lips. The only other thing that she would spit and sputter over was English peas (Yuk!)

The family would like to thank the staff at Peoria Post-Acute for the loving care they provided along with the Hospice of The Valley. You will never know how appreciated you all are.

Graveside memorial service will be held on Friday, March 22, 2024 at 10:00 am in Lovington Cemetery.