Betty Capen

Betty Jo Capen, 70, died Monday, July 30, 2012, at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, Colo.

Mrs. Capen was born September 27, 1941, in Fredericksburg, Texas, the daughter of G.W. "Dub" and Josephine "Jo" Copeland. Betty grew up and attended schools in Temple, Texas. She graduated from Temple High School in 1959 and soon thereafter, enrolled in North Texas State University in Denton, Texas. She graduated with honors and received a B.A. in Mathematics. She met her future husband, Ed, at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. They were married in 1963, also in Dallas, and spent their honeymoon in Hawaii. They established their household in Dallas and started their family. In 1974, the family moved to Los Angeles as Mr. Capen was transferred for work. They lived there for 8 years and while there, Betty was a pioneer in the computer sciences field and taught computer technology at the school their children attended in Calabasas. In 1982, they returned to Dallas until their retirement.

They had purchased land in Colorado in 1971 and vacationed here from time to time. In 1997, their Colorado home was complete and they split their time between Dallas and Durango. In 2001, they moved to Georgetown, Texas, and still maintained their home in Durango.

Betty enjoyed traveling. Before she and Ed's children were born, they traveled extensively around the world. An adventurous trip through Europe in a VW bus was one of Betty and Ed's fondest memories. They also belonged to the "World Samplers Travel Club" and were able to fly abroad on the club's exclusive airliner.

Betty was a hostess extraordinaire. She would coordinate wine and cheese tastings and food pairings for over 100 people in her home. She enjoyed entertaining groups with those wine parties and also providing for her own family. She wholeheartedly organized many family reunions. Her family fondly recalls that, "she made the best Lobster Blini, Lasagna and Strawberry Shortcake."

Betty dearly loved photography. When she moved to Colorado, she thoroughly enjoyed hiking into the high country and enjoyed all the splendor of the mountains. She was a member of a wildflower photography hiking group called the "Moxies." She also helped organize a women's ski group.

She was a member of The Worship Place in Georgetown. She continued to be passionate about her religious studies and held and organized bible discussion groups through the church she attended in Durango, First United Methodist Church.

She is survived by Edgar Capen (husband) of Durango, and Georgetown, Texas; Sheri Hall (daughter) of Dallas, Tom Hall (son-in-law) of Dallas, Neil Capen (son) of Dallas, Lissa Capen (daughter-in-law) of Dallas, Cruz Capen (grandson) of Dallas, and Nancy Fahmy (sister) of Spring, Texas, and numerous other extended family.

She was preceded in death by her father G.W. "Dub" Copeland, and her mother Josephine "Jo" Copeland.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, August 3, 2012, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. Pastor Huber and Pastor Haney of First United Methodist Church will be officiating. Burial will occur in Dallas, Texas. Memorial contributions may be made to individual's choice.