Elizabeth Ray Roberts
May 7, 2017

                        


Life Legacy



Elizabeth Ray Roberts, better known to all her family and friends as “Betty Ray” passed away on May 7, 2017 in Sebring, Florida. Betty Ray was born on August 16, 1930 in Owens, a small rural community south of Arcadia in DeSoto County, Florida. She was preceded in death by her father, Gordon Ray Johnson; mother Dora Elizabeth Kinney Lamb; brother, James A. “Jimmy” Johnson; husband, Hubert M. Roberts and son Fred M. Roberts. She was the great granddaughter of pioneer homesteader Joshua B. and Louisa Lastinger the first settlers on Lake Sterns, now Lake June north of Lake Placid.
Betty Ray was raised in Owens and attended the country school in Owens and later moved to Arcadia and graduated from DeSoto County High School in 1948. It was the summer of 1948 that she came to Lake Placid to spend time at the Johnson family lake house on Lake June where she met her future husband, Hubert M. Roberts whom she married on August 5, 1949.
Betty Ray has been an active member of the Lake Placid Community for many years. She has many accomplishments which include being the former owner of the Serena Florist Shop; District Clerk at Florida Power; Charter Member, Past President and First Recording Secretary, of the John Wesley Whidden Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy; Charter Member, Director and Past President of the Lake Placid Historical Society, and in 2012 was their Pioneer Woman of the Year. She was also the Past National President of the National Rural Carriers Association Auxiliary. She was known throughout the Auxiliary as Florida’s “Ray of Sunshine.”
Hubert and Betty Ray had three children Fred M. Roberts (deceased) and Gail Roberts Dickerson of Pampa, Texas; and Joey (Rachel) Roberts of Pampa, Texas. Grandchildren Brian (Becky) Roberts, Atlanta, Georgia; Trevor (Lucretia) Roberts, Justin (Lisa) Roberts and Wiley (Ann Marie) Dickerson all of Lake Placid, Haley Hartley, Reydon, OK, Hunter Roberts and Heather Roberts both of Pampa, TX.
She has nine great grandchildren.
She has been a born again Christian since childhood and a member of the Southern Baptist faith; and faithful and active church member wherever she lived.
Betty Ray leaves behind many friends and family members who will always remember her bigger than life smile and willingness to help others.
Visitation Saturday 5/13 at 1:30 pm at Leisure Lakes Baptist Church. Funeral Service Saturday 5/13 at 2:30 pm at Leisure Lakes Baptist Church, 880 Gardenia St., Lake Placid, FL. Burial to Follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lake Placid, FL.



Condolences or Life Stories may be expressed in her Guestbook. Morris Funeral Chapel, Sebring, Fl.

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Preceded In Death By

Gordon Ray Johnson, Father
Dora Elizabeth Kinney Lamb,Mother
James A. “Jimmy” Johnson, Brother
Hubert M. Roberts, Husband
Fred M. Roberts, Son


Survived By

Gail Roberts Dickerson, Daughter
Joey (Rachel) Roberts, Son
Brian (Becky) Roberts, Grandson
Trevor (Lucretia) Roberts, Grandson
Justin (Lisa) Roberts, Grandson
Wiley (Ann Marie) Dickerson, Grandson

                       Facts

Date Of Birth: August 16, 1930
Place Of Birth: Owens, FL.
Place Of Death: Sebring, FL.
Date Of Death: May 7, 2017

Services

Visitation Saturday 5/13 at 1:30 pm
at Leisure Lakes Baptist Church.
Funeral Service Saturday 5/13 at 2:30 pm
at Leisure Lakes Baptist Church,
880 Gardenia St., Lake Placid, FL.
Burial to Follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lake Placid, FL.

Guestbook

05/10/2017 - Helen and Gary Schuster

Betty Ray was an inspiration to me. We met at a FLRLCA state convention and she led me all the way to the Auxiliary National Board. I couldn't have done it without her. She was also an inspiration to many other people. My granddaughter Brianna Schuster befriended Ms. Betty Ray when Brianna attended her first State Convention and looked forward to seeing her to every one Betty Ray could attend. She even wrote Betty Ray several times. She loved her and as all of us feel, we are going to miss Betty Ray, but she will forever be in our hearts.

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05/10/2017 - Ronny Stutts

Sorry for your loss

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05/11/2017 - Jennette Peeples

Betty Ray will always be in the hearts of Capt. John W. Whidden UDC Chapter. Love and Prayers to her family.

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05/11/2017 - David, Cathy, Lauren and Bryan Parker

Our sympathies go out to the Roberts family. Betty Ray was always so full of life and always willing to help anyone. She was an excellent role model for young adults. She will be missed by her family and her many friends.

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25/17/2017 - Katherine L. (Kathy) Johnson

I send my condolences for the passing of Elizabeth (Betty) Ray Roberts. My mother and I send best wishes to my father's family at this time. Betty lived a long life and witnessed many changes historically that Florida's, the US, and the world experienced, since 1949. She was a true Democrat, religiously practicing, served her community's Historical Society, and served the Rural Carriers organization through out her life, given her late husband's long career with the US Postal Service.
In her passing, she shall be remembered for her kindness and ability to help out at a short notice without complaint, her musical contribution as a piano and organ player for the church earlier in her life, both Baptist and Methodist, and her commitment to the Rural Carriers Organization for the US Post Office.
My father died in 1968 unfortunately. I think he would approve of these statements. Her late son also served in Vietnam. May she rest in peace. God Bless them in their spiritual lives.

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