Betty A. Diamond

Betty A Diamond, 91 of Ocean Springs, MS passed away on August 24, 2024 after a long and fulfilling life.

Betty was born in Lawton, OK on February 27, 1933. Her parents were Thurman Boetner and Rose “Marie” Kehr. Betty’s family moved to Wauwatosa, WI in 1947, and she graduated from Wauwatosa High School in 1951. Then in 1952 she decided to join the US Air Force and shipped off to England.

Betty married Robert S. “Jack” Diamond Jr. of Rayville, LA on January 31, 1955, in Harrow, England, at which time she was honorably discharged from the US Air Force. Since her husband was also in the US Air Force they got to travel mostly abroad living in many European Countries as well as East Asia. While living abroad Betty and Jack loved living among the locals in these foreign countries and even their three children were born overseas, in England, Libya and Japan. The Diamond’s moved back permanently to the United States in 1963 and eventually settled in Ocean Springs in 1966 for the remainder of their life.

Betty worked as a medical records stenographer for 20 years at Ocean Springs Hospital, retiring in 1994. After retirement from the hospital, Betty became a volunteer for the Auxiliary at Ocean Springs Hospital and served for 10 years. During retirement, Betty spent her free time traveling and falling in love with wheel-thrown, handmade pottery taught by Steve Burtt and Lisa Fazzio at The Moving Arts Center in Downtown Ocean Springs. Some of Betty’s favorite trips were shopping in Naples, FL, Cruising Alaska, Snorkeling in Belize, and made it back to England 47 years after she left to visit friends she met while living there. She also visited a lifelong friend, Joanna, in Hawaii on several occasions.

Betty was predeceased by her husband, Robert S. “Jack” Diamond Jr.; her parents, Thurman and Rose “Marie”; and a granddaughter, Jennifer Mckeon.

She is survived by her sister, Barbara Jarchow of Germantown, WI; children, Robert S. (Deborah) Diamond III, Lewis R. (Patti) Diamond, both of Ocean Springs, Anne D. (Bob) Middleton of Naples, FL; her grandchildren, Michael (Roselean) Diamond, Rachael (Wes) Wheeler, Daniel (Chelsea) Middleton, Sarah Middleton, Crystal (Placito) Miceli, Elizabeth (Josh) Bush; her great-grandchildren, Chase Wheeler, Carly Wheeler, Amaya Moreno, Liliana Moreno, Charlotte Middleton, Audrey Miceli, Hailey Mckeon, Alexis Mckeon, Kailey Bush and Piper Bush. She is also survived by a few cousins and many nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to Lighthouse Assisted Living and Memory Care Staff for taking such good care of our mom.

A reception will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at Treasure Oak Country Club, 2105 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs, MS. Visitation will follow the reception beginning at 1:30 p.m. with a service at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 911 Porter Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS. Burial will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park, 4111 Bienville Blvd, Ocean Springs, MS.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes is honored to serve the family of Betty Diamond.