Obituary of Betty Nunley

Betty Nunley, born Betty Verleria Reed peacefully completed her earthly journey on July 23, 2022. Betty was the younger of two sisters and was born in 1934 in Colville, Washington to Clarence and Ada Reed, She was particularly proud of her Nez Perce Indian heritage.  Her Indian Totem was the bear, and she had an extensive bear collection gathered over the years.
Betty first married Mark Critchfield from Oakley, Idaho whom she met while he was in the Navy.  They had two children, Reed and Kim.  Then in 1969 she married James M. Nunley whom she spent 48 wonderful years with. She is survived by  two children, Reed and Kim; her sister, Heleen; 2nd husband, James; 5 grandchildren, Levi, Brooke, Troy, Amber. and Kayci; and 9 great grandchildren. 
A classy dresser, Betty always stood out in a crowd. This was never more evident than when she was out enjoying her favorite hobbies, bingo and poker. She became quite adept at both. In fact, when she would win at the poker table, people would say, “You have just been booped by Betty”. Neither did you ever have to guess what she was thinking as Betty readily spoke her mind. 
Betty also enjoyed fast cars, owning a Turbo Trans Am and Pontiac Firebird at different times. She looked good in those cars and  she never got a speeding ticket in her life. 
Betty owned and operated the Big Timber Art Gallery in Meridian, Idaho. This was a natural outlet for her love of Native American jewelry, décor and artwork.
We will all surely miss her. She was one of a kind. But, as they say, “No one is ever really gone if you keep a place for them in your heart”. May the Great Spirit guide you home to rejoin your beloved mother and father. 

A Mother’s Love

                                          Dear Mom,

As I stood at life’s starting line waiting for the gun to sound;

as I toed the mark, I must have paused to take a look around.

I must have said, “alright God, I’ll go and run this race,

if you’ll just give me someone to help me keep the pace”.

“Someone that I can count on to be there if I call;

someone to help pick me up, if I should chance to fall.”

And in His wisdom looking down from his courts above,

God must have said, “Better yet, you can have a mother’s love”.

A mother’s love, or so it seems, is carried in her children’s dreams.

Her children may run far away, but in her heart they always stay.

And whether they turn left or right, it’s always there within their sight.

And in their deepest times of need, on a mother’s love the soul can feed.

When the path grew steep I traveled on, when hope had left and faith was gone,

When I’d been robbed of my will, and thought I couldn’t take the hill,

When I drank a bitter cup, I had one thing to hold me up.

Always there and never late, a mother’s love won’t hesitate.

When this race is over and I am finally done,

If someone stops to ask me, “Well, how was your run?”

With no small amount of pride I’ll say, “My mother’s love prepared the way.”

“And I can’t imagine where I’d be without the love she has for me.”

Because a mother is a gift divine, I thank God each day that you are mine.

                                                                                                                                                         Your loving son, Reed