Elizabeth "betty" Murray Buckingham

She was born at home in Watertown, Connecticut and lived in the great white house with green shutters on the main street until her marriage. Sisters Anne, Nancy and brother John enjoyed the same wonderful childhood that she did, their home being the center of activity in town. Her mother (Granny B to us) was always bringing young people over from the nearby Taft School to meals and entertaining guests.Their house was always full of people and her mother ran a tight ship. We have many pictures of their sledding adventures in the winter. Her beloved horse Prince was her great friend for many years. She attended Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut. She went to Miss Risser's Finishing School in Italy for a year during high school and came back fluent in the language. She also happened to meet Benito Mussolini while there. Her wedding to Nelson Howard was an event talked about for years in Watertown of 1929. In fact, she brought her two daughters back to Watertown to live in the house where she grew up during WWII when Nelson was away.

She was very active in civic duties in her years in Pasadena, being brought up that you always endeavor to do for others. She instilled this in all of us as well. She was a member of the Junior League, and Planned Parenthood took a great deal of her time. She also took a keen interest in her husband's business, always being a discreet adviser to him with his affairs. They have always been quite a team. As with her mother, their house was a hive of activity, often hosting pool and tennis parties for their two daughters. The house had a tennis court and backyard pool, making parties a natural for their beautiful colonial house on California Street. In fact, it resembles the house in Watertown where she grew up. She bought the house by herself while Papa was away at war in 1945. It was a great investment and they lived there for 10 years. Joan and Natalie's best memories during their youth are at this house. They played tennis and started playing golf in those years. She was the lone western Buckingham until her sister, Anne and brother John came west to live in the 1970s. Her mother, Granny B, made few trips out to see them as she was not too thrilled about flying in airplanes. She and Nelson made yearly trips to Connecticut, however to maintain their ties to family and friends.

She and Nelson bought a beach house about 1955 in Sandyland, near Santa Barbara, California. They built a house there, designed to accomodate their growing clan of grandchildren. The "dorm room" in the back was set up with three trundle beds and a curtain to separate the room for the nannies to have privacy on the other side. Memories of grunion hunts in the middle of the night, roasting marshmallows on the fire, treasure hunts into the marsh, smashing pennies on the railroad tracks, finding sand dollars at "the point" and building sandcastles on the beach are some of the best in their grandchildren's lives to this day. It was an enchanting time for them all and Nanny kept the house happy and hopping during those weeks of respite. Her influence was omnipresent, from the countless activities to the wonderful family meals cooked up by Rita and all the women.

Moving to Santa Barbara in 1968, they gained a whole new set offriends, being as social there as they were in Pasadena. They first built a brand new beautiful house on the golf course at Burnham Wood, but it became too much upkeep for them and they sold it. I remember many a train ride and week visiting them there, loving every minute of our time together. They always made me feel special. They then moved to an apartment on the beach at Bonnymead, but moved to their current location a few years ago. Bridge and golf are their main activities, although they still take their flyfishing vacations to the Sierras and Rockies occasionally. They were avid world travelers until a year ago, seeing most countries in the world over the years. They have always taken daily walks ever since this author can remember and have always had novels in their hands. I remember seeing their lights on in the middle of the night, knowing their habit of reading once during the night. She is now occupied as the head of the committee to refurbish the mansion of Casa Dorinda, a retirement community where they now live (her taste in furnishings always being impeccable). Needlepoint has kept her occupied during football games and meetings as long as I can remember and we all have magnificent Christmas stockings, a result of her expertise.

She is well-loved and respected by all who know her, with her boundless energy and enthusiasm. In fact, I have trouble keeping up with her pace when we go visit them, her fast clicking heels being legendary. Papa still calls her "his bride" and their 62 years together are something to marvel at, in this day. They are still a great team and keep each other busy and active at age 85 and 83. We still have our yearly "Day at the Races" with them at Santa Anita, an annual event looked forward to by all. And our occasional weekends at Alisal Ranch in their honor have been wonderful holidays of family unity and reacquaintance. It is amazing that they continue to drive the three hours down to Newport Beach to see their 6 greatgrandchildren every month or so. She loves those babies and can't see enough of them! She is a fantastic grandmother and great grandmotherand we all adore her! Life without our "Nanny" just wouldn't be the same! She also has a beautiful voice and sang to the French Foreign Legion in the Sahara Desert in 1926. Sang in church regularly in Texas andPasadena, CA.