Berkeley Bettendorf's Obituary
Berkeley Blake Bettendorf-Latham, age 85, died Friday July 10, peacefully in the arms of her children. Born in Greenville, Mississippi to Margaret Lewis Blake and William Rhea Blake on November 1, 1929, Berkeley was raised there until her the family moved to Memphis. Berkeley made lifelong friends at both Miss Hutchison’s School for Girls and at Gulf Park College for Women in Gulfport, MS. While attending Northwestern in Chicago, she met her husband James Robert Bettendorf, Sr., to whom she was a devoted wife until his death in 2002. Jim and Berkeley were lifelong members of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Once again, she made numerous friends there and served hundreds of hours in the St John’s kitchen, with the flower guild, and as President of the Episcopal Church Women. Berkeley was a gourmet cook and graciously shared her talent not only with the St John’s Men’s Club and the Calvary Waffle Shop, but also by patiently teaching all of her children and grandchildren to follow in her culinary footsteps. Additional volunteer time was proudly given to Les Passes, St. Jude, The Women’s Exchange, the Election Commission, and Suburban Garden Club. “Berk” was vivaciously spirited, stylish, and absolutely beautiful. She loved a party and was a gracious hostess. Favorite memories of her family are filled with times on the water, whether in her pool, on a lake, or the ocean. Pickwick Lake, the Rappahannock River, the Gulf of Mexico, Thailand, The Dominican Republic and Cancun were some of her favorites. She and Jim travelled the world in their full life together, which she was able to continue, when she found happiness a second time and married Swayne Latham Jr. in 2006. Their travels continued to Charleston, where they visited Swayne’s former dorm at The Citadel, Spain, the Northwest, and the Gulf of Mexico. Loved by all who met her, Berkeley was an adored mother to Jim (Sue), Mary (Don) and Will (Sarah) and Stepmother to her lovely Latham girls, Madeleine (John), Peggy (Don), Marion (David) and Ann. Precious Grandmother to Michael and Blake Holt, Charles, Lauren and Luke Bettendorf. Step-Grandmother to Matt, John and Kathleen Horton, John and Charles Elmer, Donald and Stuart McClure, David, Nathalie and Virginia McDonald, and Swayne and Everett. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Allen Morgan Nursing Home and Crossroads Hospice. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Church health Center in Memphis, or the charity of your choice. Burial service will be held Monday July 13 at 4:00 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Memphis.
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