Betty Gwynn Blizzard

She left behind her greatest blessings; her loving husband Bill (William Earl); her daughter Carol and son-in-law BJ Braden; son, David; daughter, Debbi; son-in-law, Timothy Mesiner; and daughter, Cathy and son-in-law Carl Rodgers. Betty is also survived by eight grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Cindy Mesiner and sister Nancy Thames Bottenfield Jole.

Betty was born on July 16, 1935 in Valparaiso, FL to long-standing Boggy Bayou parents, Leon and Ola Thames. After attending Mather School of Nursing at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, she married William Earl Blizzard of Richlands, NC and began the journey as an Air Force spouse which took her to the beautiful isle of Bermuda with three children in tow and another to arrive. Life-long friendships blossomed over cards and shared experiences. From there the adventure took the family to Goldsboro, NC and finally back home to Northwest Florida where they resided in Fort Walton Beach and added a fifth child. Upon her parents death, she returned to Valparaiso.

Always close to her family and her beloved “Fish Head” roots, she adored and created memories for her family that included camping, lots of fishing and crabbing in the local waterways. Although most of her life was spent in Okaloosa County she also had opportunities to visit her children on the West Coast and in Europe.

She was active in First Baptist Church of Niceville, Ocean City and Cinco Baptist Churches of Fort Walton Beach and finally a member of First Baptist Church of Valparaiso.

Her volunteer outlets included teaching youth cheerleading and she was President of the NCO Wives Club at Eglin Air Force Base.

Enjoy the journey Betty, we’ll catch up with you later! For now, revel in the company of “yer momernem.”

No services are to follow, her family had the opportunity to surround her with their love before she departed.

National Cremation & Burial Society has been entrusted with the arrangements.