Betty Clayton, Lifelong Resident Of Point Pleasant Beach, Dies At 82

Courtesy of Van Hise & Callagan Funeral Home:

Betty Clayton, 82, of Point Pleasant Beach, peacefully left us to join her husband (and the rest of the gang) in the early morning of April 29, 2015, surrounded by her family.

Betty Ann Green Clayton was born in Point Pleasant Beach where she raised her family. She was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, and graduated from St. Peter’s Grammar School and Point Pleasant Beach High School. Betty treasured memories of her childhood, St. Peters School, and years working at Havens Beach and the Bell Telephone Company, until those memories escaped her.

Her interests included antiquing and gardening, she found both joy and aggravation in caring for her many pets and she took great pride in the home she shared with her loving husband Hal, and daughters Cathy and Laurie. Betty was creative and meticulous, a true perfectionist in all her endeavors.

She never laughed so hard as she did when sharing a pot of tea and a dose of hilarity with her three sisters, Linney, Nancy, and Barbara. The foursome (aka the Green girls) collaborated on countless projects from antique shows to parade floats to political campaigns, but none more ambitious than when they partnered to open Everybody’s General Store. They planned the restoration of the historic building and collaborated to create a unique general store that was unparalleled at the time.

In more recent years Betty could be heard accompanying her loving caregiver Luiza at the keyboard singing show tunes, holiday favorites, and a variety of Frank Sinatra’s hits. Her adopted family at Brandywine Reflections loved her dearly and she loved them, known to all as Betty Ann Green.

Betty lost the love of her life, Hal, in 2002. She was also predeceased by her parents Wallace and Ethel Green, brothers Raymond and Kenneth Green, brothers-in-law Foster Hatch and Don Fioretti. She is survived by her daughters Catherine Tsucalas and her husband Mike, and Laurie Clayton and her husband Greg Tombs, her grandsons Michael, Matthew, Elliot and Jeremy, and her great-grandson Matthew. She is also survived by her loving sisters Linney Hatch, Nancy Miksis, and Barbara Fioretti, her devoted brother-in-law George Miksis and sister-in-law Jean Greene, her long-time caregiver Luiza and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s by-the Sea, Episcopal Church, 804 Bay Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations in Betty’s name may be made to Mary’s Table at St. Mary’s by-the-Sea.