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Bette Cornett Taylor Garner died November 12, 2007 in Albuquerque, NM. She was born in Marceline, MO on December 17, 1918 to Dr. Craig and Capitola Cornett. In 1934, the Cornetts moved to Artesia, NM where Dr. Cornett was the town's only physician. In 1938, Bette met Kyle (Son) Whitmore Taylor, a rancher from Maljamar, NM on a blind date in Artesia. They married in 1939 in Carlsbad and honeymooned in El Paso, TX. They made their home on the Taylor Ranch in Maljamar, where she lived until Son's death in 1961. She was active in the March of Dimes, 4-H Clubs, NM Cattle Growers Association, Lea County Fair, Lea County Democrats, REA and Lovington School Board. In 1974, she married Lee Garner, the NM Livestock Director under Governor Bruce King and moved to Albuquerque. Lee was a survivor of the Bataan Death March and Japanese prison camps in WWII. In 1977, they attended the "Reunion for Peace" in the Philippine Islands, where Lee was taken prisoner. It was the first time in 35 years after WWII that the widows and survivors had been to the Philippines. It was hosted by President Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. The Philippine Air Force flew over the crowd and dropped thousands of flowers. After marriage to Lee, Bette lived in The Vineyard in Albuquerque, NM. She was active in PEO Chapter X, All Faiths Receiving Home, a volunteer at Bernalillo County Hospital now UNM Health Sciences Center, Central Methodist Church, and many other organizations. She is survived by a son, A.C. Taylor, wife, Ann Taylor, granddaughter, Ashlee from Albuquerque; granddaughter, Marissa and husband, Tony Jabczenski, and great-granddaughters, Kylie and Taylor from California; daughter, Kyla Thompson and husband, Roger from Albuquerque; grandsons, Taylor and wife, Ashley; great-grandchildren, Aidan and Addison from Denver, CO; and grandson, Brandon from St. Louis, MO. A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Los Poblanos, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to New Mexico State Scholarship, State PEO Chapter, 8101 Foothills Drive, Farmington, NM 87402.
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