July 12, 1913 – March 20, 2015
Service Announcement
After 101 generous, eventful and adventurous years Elizabeth (Betty) Moyer passed away peacefully at Deertrail Cottage near Duncan, British Columbia. Betty’s friends are invited to join her family in a memorial service to be held at St Luke’s Church, 3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd, Victoria at 2:00 pm on Thursday, May 14, 2015. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.
After 101 generous, eventful and adventurous years Betty Moyer passed away peacefully at Deertrail Cottage near Duncan on 20 March, 2015. Betty was born on 12 July, 1913 at William Head Quarantine Station where her father, Ira Cornwall, ran the power station. Betty attended the tiny public school at William Head with her sisters Molly and Barbara and brother, Brooke.
The family moved to Victoria in 1928 and Betty attended Victoria High and Victoria College at Craigdarroch Castle. Betty studied to become a dietician at the MacDonald Institute in Guelph and began her long career in preparing and sharing food. At various stages of her career Betty ran cafeterias in the Vancouver Normal School and Victoria College and worked in the diet office and nurses’ residence at St Joseph’s-Victoria General Hospital.
Betty married Alec Ian Halkett in 1941 and travelled with him to the Yukon where he served as an officer and pilot on the Yukon River paddlewheelers. For two years Betty and Alec wintered in a one-room cabin on the river. Betty was widowed in 1947 when Alec lost his life on the river. With the support of her large and close-knit family Betty settled in Victoria with her young son Ian and established her boarding house at 1951 Argyle Avenue where a generation of UVic students enjoyed generous and gregarious hospitality.
In 1979 Betty married Richard (Dick) Moyer and they settled into Dick’s family home on Mina Avenue for what would be 35 very loving and extremely busy years together. Dick and Betty’s life centred on their ever-growing family – Dick’s three daughters Ann Hyggen, Gail Mitchell and Jane Mitchell and Betty’s son, Ian Halkett (in South Australia) and an always expanding intercontinental circle of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Dick and Betty cherished their time at their cabin – their one-room second home – on the bank of the Koksilah River.
Betty and Dick participated unsparingly in the life of their community including St Columba’s Anglican Church, the Strawberry Vale Community Club and Betty’s energetic walking group. Unfailingly generous hosts, Betty and Dick made family and friends always welcome at their table and provided a home in Victoria for scores of visitors. Betty was a highly successful gardener who loved sharing her produce and flowers with her family, friends and fellow parishioners. Always a traveller, over the years Betty visited most of Canada, the West Indies, Australia (several times), New Zealand and the UK, always visiting old friends and acquiring new ones along the way.
In later years Betty and Dick left their home and large garden for a condominium at Gorge Pointe and then for an assisted living apartment at Lions Cove. Betty and Dick retired finally to extended care at Deertrail Cottage. Betty and Dick’s family is deeply grateful to the staff at both Lions Cove and Deertrail Cottage and especially to the staff at Deertrail Cottage for the wonderful care they gave Betty during her final days.
Dick Moyer and Betty’s extended family of Moyers, Halketts and Cornwalls mourn Betty’s passing and celebrate her long, fruitful and loving life.
A family funeral will be held at St Michael and All Angels Church, 2858 Mill Street, Chemainus at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, April 7th.
Betty’s friends are invited to join her family in a memorial service to be held at St Luke’s Church, 3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd, Victoria at 2:00 pm on May 14th.
In lieu of flowers we would be pleased if you wished to donate to a charity of your choice in remembrance of Betty. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
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Mike Fall
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Darlene McDonald I worked in the Dietary Office at St. Joseph’s Hospital with Betty from 1967 – 69. When I saw her obit in the paper, I recognized her picture right away – she hadn’t changed much in almost 50 years. She was a kind and generous lady and I always remember how she glowed when she talked about her son. He was the highlight of her life. She was very patient when she taught me the job and was always there to answer questions. I appreciated her very much and although she lived a good long time, I’m sorry to read about your loss. My heart goes out to you.
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John Halkett Our condolences to the family and friends of Auntie Betty.
I remember at least once a month we would travel down to Victoria to visit my grandparents and after that we would make a point of visiting Auntie Betty. She had English type gardens that I liked to explore and get lost in. I also have fond memories of visiting a cabin on Shawnigan Lake where we would take out the row boat and enjoy the lake.
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Carolyn Holland My condolences to the family and friends of my Auntie Betty.
One of my early memories of visiting Auntie Betty was when I was 5 or 6. I would go out to the garden and position myself in the garden swing and rock in it for hours. I had never seen anything so big and comfy in my young life. In later years as a teenager I lost my fear of entering the ample boarding house and centred myself around the round kitchen table with a lazy Susan which at the time was a new invention in my world. Out of that kitchen came the best biscuits, ever!
With love, Carolyn Holland (Halkett), sister to Philip Halkett
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Alexandra Halkett and family Please accept our deepest condolences at this sad time. Though we never met Betty, I have enjoyed getting to know her through stories and emails from Ian these past few years. She sounds like a remarkable, inspirational lady who lived life to the fullest.
With Sympathy,
Alexandra Halkett, Peter Oberle and Asia Halkett Oberle
Ottawa, Ontario
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Philip Halkett and family Sharon, Megan and Lindsay Halkett offer our condolences to all who knew Betty.
My favourite memory of Betty was going over to see Betty and Ian and a houseful of ‘guests’ with my dad Gavin (Betty’s first husband’s brother) and my mom Leo. I must have been about 8 or 9 years old. It was always a big adventure. We drove down from Nanaimo every month to see my dad’s father near Beacon Hill Park, and we would drop over to Betty’s Sunday afternoon, drink tea and play in the yard.
A life well lived.
My heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Halkett & Moyer family. A most incredible lady indeed. In 1963,fresh from the farm,I went to live in the big city and attend UVIC. I spent 4 wonderful years at 1951 Argyle Ave., some of the best years of my life. Fantastic food, conversation around the big round table with it’s huge lazy Susan…..crowded around the TV watching ‘Les Habitants’ win Stanly’s cup so many years in a row. Memories for me that have never dulled, all made so very special by this wonderful lady. I sincerely regret missing the announcement of Betty’s passing as I most certainly would have made the effort to attend either service. I would very much like to learn of Betty’s final resting place so I could lay a flower or two and say a small prayer.
Mike Fall Ladysmith, BC