Elizabeth Ann Jowers Sledge (she always preferred to be called “Betty”) began her life in Shreveport, Louisiana on August 21, 1946. It ended when she was ushered into the presence of her Lord and Savior at age 79 on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026. Betty was raised in Hanna, Louisiana, the only child of A.R. and Lillian Jowers, and loved to spend time with her father fishing and playing sports, and eating good Southern cooking. She graduated in 1964 from Coushatta High where she was an outstanding basketball player. In 1968 she graduated from Northwestern State College and married Loyd Sledge the following year. In 1973, the Navy sent them, along with their children Chris and Jennifer to Oak Harbor, Washington. Except for a two-year stint in Newport, Rhode Island, she would remain in Oak Harbor until Alzheimer’s and declining physical health necessitated her move to a care home in Lynnwood, Washington, in 2024 to be close to her children. She was married to Loyd until 1987, when he was suddenly and tragically lost in an aircraft mishap.

Betty loved the Lord, and was a member of both Oak Harbor Southern Baptist Church and First Reformed Church of Oak Harbor for many years, teaching Sunday School and playing the piano and organ. While her kids were growing up, she could normally be found outdoors working in the yard, shooting baskets, or throwing a football or frisbee – her yard was always the center of neighborhood activity. She loved reading lots and lots of books, listening to opera and following her favorite opera singers, playing with her cats, and travelling the state and talking with her best friend and housemate Joan. She never gave up her love for hamburgers, ketchup, Coca Cola, and dipped cones.

Betty is survived by her son Chris, daughter-in-law Monica (thanks, mom for picking out such an amazing wife for me), and grandkids Kyle and Elyssa, of Mill Creek, Washington; and her daughter Jennifer Rivera, son-in-law Orlando, and grandsons Wyatt and Owen, of Everett, Washington. She is also survived by a half-sister Robbie Jowers Gardner of Coushatta, Louisiana. Betty loved her kids and grandkids (who always called her “Nanny”) immensely and, even as her dementia progressed, never forgot their names. Betty was enormously loved by her family and will be sorely missed and fondly remembered.

The family is so thankful for Anny and the wonderful caregivers at Madison Adult Family Home in Lynnwood for the amazing love and care they showed Betty in the last years of her life.

It was Betty’s wishes to be cremated. No services are planned.