Betty Jane Gordon

Betty Jane Gordon

May 16, 1929 – July 20, 2026

Betty lived an extraordinary life, full of family, friends, travel, and social events. Born in 1929 in Grants, New Mexico, Betty was the 7th of 12 siblings born to Janie and Sherman Shelton. Betty moved to several locations with her family across the west as her father and oldest brother Jack worked for the government constructing dams and levees. She lived in Grant and San Fidel, NM and Victorville, Mill Valley, Berkley, Princeton and Marysville, CA growing up. She graduated from Marysville High School in 1947. While in High School she met her husband of 51 years, Thomas Murdock Gordon. Soon after meeting, Tom and Betty started dating and were married on December 30, 1948. They settled in Princeton and lived there for over 70 years; being fiercely independent she lived alone following his death in 1999 until the age of 94 when she moved to the Terraces in Chico in 2024.

Betty had a strong work ethic and an eye for detail, which she used her whole life in her partnership with her husband Tom for decades on their family rice farm. While in high school she worked at a Soda Fountain at Bealle AFB and at a department store in downtown Marysville. She would get money from her mother to take a taxi or bus home from work and would always spend her money on good music in the jukebox and walk home instead. She also worked at the Bank of America in Marysville and Tri Counties Warehouse.

Betty famously did not know a stranger, she was open, loving and kind to friends, family, and acquaintances alike. Second to her love of family was her love of community, she volunteered and supported many Colusa County Organizations over the years, highlights being the Princeton Methodist Church, Princeton Homemakers, Red Hat Society, Sacramento Valley Museum, where she volunteered as a director for many years, and Federal Housing Administration as a Director. She was also a long-time member of Colusa Methodist Church.

An avid gardener, she turned her Princeton home into an oasis, with Hibiscus flowers as big as dinner plates, and flower beds bursting at the seams. Many a grandkid were put to work tending to the garden in search of spending money growing up. Betty also enjoyed a creative side, always sewing, crocheting, and painting. She made her own custom Cabbage Patch dolls, naming them Rice Patty dolls and gave them to all her grandchildren. Even at 97 years young, she was enjoying art classes and arranging florals for her assisted living home, she took her responsibilities seriously in making sure that the dining tables all had beautiful arrangements weekly.

Betty was always up for an adventure and travelled the world many times over. Some trips she most enjoyed were to China, Ireland, England, Germany, France, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Alaska, New Zealand, Canada, and many domestic adventures to various states.

Betty loved her family and grandchildren, then great grandchildren, and even great great grandchildren more than anything. She took pride in getting to know each one of her offspring. She never missed a birthday party, baseball game, or any event where they were involved. If she was invited, she was in attendance. She also loved going to the Casino’s and frequented Colusa Casino so often that every staff member and waiter knew her by name and came to give her hugs when she was there. Betty enjoyed card games and dominos, Root Beer floats, Gordon Family cousin meetings and reunions, travelling to Shelton Simpson Wall family reunions, meeting new friends, and getting her hair done by her long-time hairdresser and friend Vera. Betty was always dressed in fun outfits with matching handbags and accessories and was never seen without her Rum Raisin red lipstick. She brought friendship, love, and light to so many people over her 97 years earthside, and to say she will be missed is a great understatement.

She is survived by her three children, Donna (Buzz) Roush, Moira/Dee Dee (Bob) DeTuncq, and Ben (Tina) Gordon; 12 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren. The love and grace she bestowed upon these family members above is unmeasurable and we are so grateful for our amazing matriarch and the memories we got to create with her.

Betty’s memorial will be held Friday July 31st at Brusie Funeral Home, 626 Broadway Street, Chico at 10am. Lunch will follow at Sol Mexican Grill located at 3629 Esplanade, Chico.