ILWACO – Betty Louise Hale-Fitzpatrick, 80, died Jan. 14, 2009, surrounded by her loved ones at home in Ilwaco. She was born April 30, 1928, in Des Moines, Iowa. At the age of six her family moved to Camas.

She married Omer Hale at the First Baptist Church in Camas, on June 1, 1946. They were happily married 57 years.

Mrs. Hale-Fitzpatrick was always very active; she loved entertaining, cooking, shopping, vacationing and bowling. She enjoyed elk hunting with her husband and proudly shot an elk herself. The Columbia River was a second home to their family and she was an excellent water skier. After the grandchildren came along, she became a self-taught seamstress and her new hobby became making clothes for her grandchildren. She would look forward to their annual vacation drive to Kentucky, so they could attend family reunions.

She was employed at Crown Zellerbach, Pendleton Woolen Mill, and as a grocery clerk at many different supermarkets in the Camas area. After retiring she occupied herself selling Home Interior and Empress Pearls.

In 1993 after living in Washougal for many years the couple sold their Mt. Norway home and moved to Ilwaco to be close to her mother, Estella Watrous.

She married Robert Fitzpatrick on Oct. 9, 2004. They enjoyed their trip back to Montana every year, to visit with his family. They were both active and participated and enjoyed league bowling in Ilwaco.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Fitzpatrick; son, Robin Hale of White Salmon; a brother, Richard Watrous of Ilwaco; three grandchildren, Shannon (Hale) Briones of Tigard, Ore., Ryan Hale of Koloa, Hawaii and Heidi Hale of Bend, Ore.; and two great-grandchildren, Kaylee and Logan Briones of Tigard, Ore. She was preceded in death by husband, Omer Hale, son, Kenny Hale and an infant daughter.

Funeral services will be held at Straub’s Funeral Home in Camas on Wednesday Jan. 21, at 11 a.m. To sign the online guest book, visit www.straubsfuneralhome.com.