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Betty Carter Duffy, age 85, passed away Sunday, December 20, 1998. She was born November 23, 1913 in Galveston, TX to Louise Brand Carter and Samuel Russell Carter. She graduated from St. Mary's Academy in Amarillo, TX in 1929 and worked for two years for a doctor in Clovis, NM before going to Boston, MA on a voice scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music. Due to illness in the family she soon had to return to Clovis where she stayed briefly before moving to New York City to Work at Columbia University Hospital and for the Santa Fe Railroad. Upon her return to New Mexico she worked in Santa Fe for the New Mexico State Dept. of Education during World War II. She was appointed a Col. Aide de Camp in the National Guard Auxiliary. While in Santa Fe, she met young Army Air crops officer from New York who was stationed at Sandia Base named Edward Duffy while she was performing during the Fiesta as"the Blonde Senorita". When Archbishop Gerken passed away she was specially requested to sing as he lie in state at St. Francis Cathedral. After the War Ed returned to New Mexico and he and Betty married in June 1947 at the Cathedral. after spending 20 years lovingly raising her four children she went back to work at the University of New Mexico Medical School in the Dept. of Neurology, where she worked with stroke patients with speech difficulties and later was office manager for the Regional Medical Program in its early years. Following her retirement, she studied French traveled extensively with Ed to Europe, Asia, Alaska, and throughout the US and Canada to visit their many friends and family. She also fulfilled a lifelong dream and began composing crossword puzzles which were published in many publications, including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and several Simon & Schuster Crossword books. She spent many happy hours working crossword puzzles, always loving a good challenge and dearly loved spending time with her friends playing bridge. Perhaps her greatest joy in life, however, came from sharing in the lives of her children and their families. Nothing gave her more happiness than baby-sitting for their grandchildren. She faced her final challenge with grace and courage and will be terribly missed by all who were privileged to know her. Her family is particularly grateful to the many loving caregivers and residents and their family members at The Green Project who shared her final days. Betty is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Edward Thomas Duffy and their children, Robert and his wife, Jennie and their children, Emily, Meredith and Andy of Houston, TX, Julie and her husband, Charlie Brown and their children, Rachel and Scott of Albuquerque, Thomas and his wife, Pauline and their son, Liam of Vienna, VA, and Richard and his wife, Deborah and their children, Hannah, Joseph, Caroline and Margaret of Cabin John, MD. She is also survived by her sister, Ann Cahill of Seattle, WA and brother, Sam Carter of Albuquerque, as well as numerous cousins and nieces and nephews, many of whom she gladly and lovingly"mothered" at different times in their lives. We cherish the time we had with her; she will be dearly missed. Rosary will be recited Sunday, December 27, 1998 at 7:30 p.m. at Fitzgerald & Son Mortuary at 3113 Carlisle NE. The funeral Mass will take place on Monday, December 28, 1998 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church, located at 4020 Lomas Blvd. NE. Interment will follow at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe at 1:30 p.m. Fitzgerald and Son Funeral Directors, 3113 Carlisle NE, in charge of arrangements.
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