Betty Jean (Zyp) Thayer passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in the loving arms of her two daughters in Bellingham, Washington.
Betty was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on Oct. 22, 1937, to John and Margaret Zyp. Betty Jean and family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in the early 1940s. Betty remained in Cleveland through her grade school years and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1955. Betty continued her education at Ohio University in Athens where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education.
Degree in hand, Betty landed her first job as a speech pathologist in Willowick, Ohio. Betty married her first love in 1959 and had three children, Carrie, Jason and Dana. Betty’s family grew by three when she married Donald Thayer in 1974. Don was a Washington native and had two kids of his own, Rhonda and Brian. Their blended family had much in common and shared many adventures together with Betty and Don leading the way.
Betty moved to Chehalis, Washington, in 1975 to be with Don and lived there for 42 years. They had countless adventures together exploring the world and watching their family grow. This brought her much joy. Betty spent the late 70s and early 80s raising her two youngest children before returning to the workforce. She was an administrative assistant at Dr. Pope’s pediatric practice.
Betty was proud of her heritage. Her blood ran blue, like the color of all the Blue Delftware that could be found throughout her home. She and Don enjoyed many genealogy adventures to find out about their Dutch and Norwegian backgrounds. A few of Betty’s interests included garage sale hunting (which was more like a sport for her), sewing, thrift shopping, spending time with family and friends, and boating adventures with her first mate and soul mate, Don. Betty was an avid reader of novels and periodicals. If she read something in a Reader’s Digest or magazine that would remind her of you, she would immediately rip it from its pages and mail it to you.
Betty was preceded in death by parents, John and Margaret Zyp; husband, Don Thayer; brothers, Jerry (Sandy) Zyp and David (Pat) Zyp; and grandson, Tony Capparelli.
Betty leaves behind her five children, Carrie (Terry) Harrell, Jason Shuster, Dana (Eric) Ferrier, Rhonda (Vince) Herschell and Brian Thayer. She had eight grandchildren, Ryan (Crystal) Harrell, Steven (Nikki) Harrell, Alex Ferrier, Nolan Ferrier, Owen Ferrier, Rebecca Capparelli, Paul (Julie) Herschell and Sarah (Brandon) Borges-Silva. She was a proud great-grandma to eight, Penelope Harrell, Brielle Harrell, Eliana Capparelli, Isaac Capparelli, Allison Herschell, Parker Herschell, Bella Borges-Silva and Ava Borges-Silva. She had one niece, Victoria Zyp.
Betty was an amazing person who was dearly loved and will be greatly missed — for now. Tot Ziens!
