Betty Jane Miller-Barrett's Obituary
Betty Jane Miller-Barrett, age 80, of Spring Lake passed away at home on Wednesday, July 4, surrounded by her family and friends. She was born February 4, 1927, in Los Angeles, California, to Wallace and Mary Van Allen, and was of Dutch and Irish ancestry. She graduated from Beverly Hills High School and attended the University of Southern California.
As a young girl, Betty, whose mother was a Hollywood actress, had roles in several movies along with well-known stars such as Spencer Tracy, Robert Taylor, and Vera Miles.
While attending USC, she worked summer jobs in Yosemite National Park, where she met her first husband, Lowry Miller. Despite his UCLA affiliation, they were married on December 27, 1948. They raised four children, living in Omaha, Nebraska; Sacramento, California; Louisville, Kentucky; and finally Spring Lake, Michigan, where she was preceded in death by Lowry in 1997. She later met and married William Barrett, who also preceded her in death in 2005.
Betty was active in community service, serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in troubled families, working on the Spring Lake Help Line, and recording books on tape for the sight-impaired. She was also a longtime member of Spring Lake Country Club.
Betty was preceded in death by her son, Scott Miller, of Sedona, Arizona. She is survived by three children, Tim (Nancy) Miller of Courtland, California, Jenet (Steve) Busch of Lawai, Hawaii, and Julia Miller of Spring Lake. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Christina Van Den Berge of Sparta, Michigan; Justin Miller of Sedona, Arizona; Sean Miller of San Francisco, California; and Jason Miller of Sacramento, California. She also had four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for Betty will take place on Monday, July 9, at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Grand Haven with Rev. Thomas Cook officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Ottawa Community, http://www.noch.org/hospice.html. Share memories with the family at their online guest book at www.vbkfuneralhome.com.
Betty was a woman with grace, intelligence, and kindness. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
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