BETTY LOIS CHARLES

Betty L. Charles, 65 of Devils Lake ND formerly of Flagstaff, Arizona passed away in the loving care of her family on Sunday morning, November 13, 2011 at her home. Mass of Christian Burial for Betty will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with Fr. Charles Leute O.P. celebrating the Mass. Reading the Scriptures will be Ryan James Charles and the Gift Bearers will be Gene and Rene Allery. Betty Lois was born on June 24, 1946 to Verner Ogle and Nannie Ethel (Woods) Mayes. She was born in San Diego, California and spent her childhood and elementary education years in the Lemon Grove area in California. The family moved to the Navajo reservation in Arizona and Betty attended Ganado Presbyterian School in Ganado AZ her freshman year and then Ganado Public High School. She graduated from Sanders High School with the class of 1965. She continued her education and graduated with an Associate Degree in Business from Northern Arizona University (formerly Arizona State College) in Flagstaff. Betty worked for a time at the Wide Ruins Boarding School in Wide Ruins AZ and later at the Fort Huachuca Military Telecommunications Installation, living in Sierra Vista AZ. Betty moved to Colorado and began working at the Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado and here she fell in love with the man she would marry, James Charles. They were united in marriage on January 19th, 1974 in Las Vegas NV. They established their home in Mesa Verde where James worked as a seasonal park ranger and Betty as an administrative assistant to the chief park archeologist. They later moved to the Grand Canyon where Betty served as an administrative assistant to the park superintendent. After a few years at Grand Canyon, Betty and James moved to Flagstaff AZ and then to Billings MT. Betty took interest in her children’s education by working as a volunteer teacher’s aide while her children attended schools in Billings and Germantown, Maryland. In 1991, the family moved to the Fort Totten area and Devils Lake. Betty devoted her life to her family as a loving wife and mother; always making a loving home for the family, with each move that came along. Betty enjoyed gardening and being outdoors. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing southwest and traditional Navajo meals to share with family and friends. From her years spent in Arizona, she had come to love the art and jewelry of the Southwest. Betty’s interests also included studying Southwest archeology and Native American cultures. She enjoyed traveling by land and wherever an automobile could take her and also was an avid mystery reader. But for Betty her faith, her family and friends were always her priorities. Betty will be greatly missed by the family that survives her. Her husband James; her daughter and granddaughter, Shauna Jaimie Charles and Autumn Rayne Parisien and her son and grandchildren Ryan James (Christina) Charles and Damien James Charles and Christopher Kai Charles all of Devils Lake; brothers Vernon Mayes, Flagstaff AZ and Bruce Mayes, Lakeside AZ; sister Gay Ann (Steve) Ward of Page AZ; mother-in-law Martha Charles of Ganado AZ; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Elsie Snell, Garland TX, Sam (Sarah) Charles Jr., Phoenix AZ, Elaine (Harry) Sombrero, Kayenta AZ, Timothy (Debbie) Charles, Denver CO, Earl Charles, Phoenix AZ and Raymond Charles, Ganado AZ; many nieces, nephews, cousins and two aunts also survive. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, father-in-law Sam Charles and brother-in-law Anthony Charles.