Betty Jean Dawkins

Betty Jean (Brooks) Dawkins was born in Sunnyside, Washington, on February 17, 1943.  Betty’s childhood was spent on the family farm with her parents Clifford and Mary (Kyle) Brooks and her three brothers Robert, Richard, and Harry.

Betty had a most remarkable and blessed life.
Betty accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at the age of 12.
After graduation from Sunnyside High School in Washington State, she followed her two older brothers to Nampa, Idaho and attended Northwest Nazarene College.  Taking a short break from college in August of 1966, Betty assisted her brother Richard in starting the North Ash Nazarene Church, as one of seven original charter members, in Wichita, Kansas.

After graduation, Betty worked as an elementary school teacher in Klamath Falls, Oregon.  Betty often remarked Klamath Falls was one of her most favorite teaching experiences because of the small class sizes and close community.  Although she very much-loved Klamath Falls, Betty decided to move to Portland, Oregon where she began teaching elementary school.  It was in Portland, where Betty met and fell in love with Lawrence Dawkins. They were married at the Nazarene church in Sunnyside Washington by her brother Richard Brooks.  From their love and union, they welcomed sons, Lawrence (Lawren) David Dawkins and John Lee Dawkins.

Betty has a wonderful youthful spirit and an infectious joy.  She has a host of wonderful friends and is beloved by her family.  Betty has traveled the world and was known to be an extremely skilled artist. She enjoyed gardening and was kind to all who met her. In retirement, she took on the difficult task of learning to play the violin. She is loved and will be greatly missed by all.

One day before being called to the Lord on February 18, 2020, Betty celebrated her 77th birthday with her family and friends. Her gratitude, love, and affection were present and appreciated by all.

Betty was preceded in death by her father Clifford, her mother Mary, her son Lawren David, and her oldest brother Robert.  Left to celebrate her life and legacy is her soul-mate of 50 years Lawrence, her youngest son John Lee Dawkins (Monica), brothers Richard Brooks (Barbara) and Harry Brooks; brothers-in-law John L. Dawkins; her beloved grandchildren Laurena, Davina, and Jason Dawkins; nephew Jonathan Brooks (Tricia); nieces Renee Brooks Shields (Bruce), Faith Brooks Wilson (Jasper), and Heather Brooks; she will continue to be loved and missed by many additional great nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.