Extracted from The Copper Basin News (Kearny, AZ)
Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Betty Jo Salisbury

Betty Jo (Giles) Salisbury age 89 yrs, 8 months and 18 days, passed away peacefully at her home in Tumwater, Washington, on Dec. 29, 2015 after a short illness. Attending her at her bedside were her two daughters, Tyrra Jo and Nancy June.

Betty Jo was born April 11, 1926 in Clayton, New Mexico, the daughter of Lula Flora Johnson and William Ridley Giles. Her father passed away 4 months before her birth. Her mother Lu, later remarried William George Kishbaugh in Tucson, Arizona on Dec. 8, 1928.

Except for a few years during the Great Depression, Betty was raised and went to public schools in Hayden, Arizona. Upon completion of high school, she attended the University of Arizona. She worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad in Hayden and Phoenix, Arizona and in December 1946 , she married Harry M. Campbell Jr., a recently returned US Marine officer and WWll veteran, whom she met in Hayden. That marriage produced their two daughters, Tyrra and Nancy.

She later married Frank W. Owen, a General Contractor in Whittier, California. From that marriage, they had one son, Frank Jr.

“B.J.” as she was sometimes called, worked as a secretary at the Ford Motor Company General Offices in Buena Park, California and she also worked for a private company as an editor and reproduction typist, working on numerous highly classified documents.

Betty Jo was mild mannered, with a positive attitude and spirit, being a friend to many, and known for her take charge and get it done spirit. She loved cooking, dining out, and entertaining her friends and family!

She was preceded in death by her parents and step-father, a sister June, as well as her half siblings, Oscar and Mittie Giles, and her husbands Harry Campbell Jr., Frank Owen and Frank Salisbury.

She is survived by two daughters, Tyrra Jo Murdock of Olympia, Washington and Nancy June Munger of Round Mountain, Nevada and one son, Frank Owen of Anaheim, California, as well as half-siblings, Georgianna (Kishbaugh) Wood of Kearny, Arizona, Bill Kishbaugh of Dripping Springs, Arizona and Charley Kishbaugh of Aravaipa Canyon, Arizona. She leaves behind several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she dearly loved.

A memorial of her life is being planned, to take place where she resided during these past several years.