Betty Jaber

Betty Heysinger was born on October 5, 1923, the third child of Adelia “Dot” Hail Heysinger and Charles C. Heysinger.  Her sister, Dorothy, was 2, and her brother, Jack, was a year old.

In 1927, their mother died in a tragic automobile accident and the three children moved to Davenport, Iowa to live with their paternal grandparents. Four years later they moved back to Clinton, Iowa when her father married Viola Ladehoff Nelson, a widow with two young children, Marilyn, 3 and Ray, 2 years old. 

While in school Betty was active in gymnastics, tap and ballet, played the saxophone in the band, and was a cheerleader.  She graduated from Clinton High School in 1941, and then became a legal secretary.  A few years later, the family moved to Kansas City, Kansas where she worked in a Defense Plant during World War II. Betty loved going back to Clinton to visit family, friends and attend her high school reunions well into her 80s.

In 1946, Betty visited a friend in San Francisco and decided to stay in California where she, once again, became a legal secretary.

In 1951, she married Dr. Albert Jaber, an anesthesiologist located at Franklin Hospital.  Once married, they moved to Alameda where they remained for the rest of their lives. Their daughter, Lee Ann, was born in 1958, and their son, David, was born in 1959.  In addition to raising her children she was an active member of the Alameda community. Betty played golf and did volunteer work at Children’s Hospital, Alameda Hospital, The White Elephant of the Oakland Museum, Junior Golf, and her Church, Trinity Lutheran Church.  She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church for over sixty years. Betty was very proud of the fact that she had a hole-in-one twice in her golf career!

Betty always said she would like to be remembered by the kind and flattering words her brother used to describe her in the family genealogy — whether they are true or not — “She was a warm-hearted woman of tremendous wit, who had a multitude of friends.” Betty was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, friend who will be deeply missed by all.

She is survived by her children, her grandchildren, Maddy and Gracie, her daughter-in-law, Tiffany, her sister, Dorothy Leimert, and many nieces and nephews.

Private family services will be held in Hawaii where her ashes will be spread with those of her husband.

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