Mabel "Betty" Elizabeth Stansbury

On the morning of December 12th, the LORD’s angels lifted Mabel (Betty) Stansbury’s spirit up into the glorious realms of heaven. But as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9) 

Remaining behind to grieve for her loss, and yet being blessed for 57 years of marriage, is her husband, Walter (Wally) Stansbury. Also, sharing in her loss is her brother, Robert W. Beers and wife, Sandy; her nephew Rob and wife Alicia; her niece Kristen and husband Kent, and the Greenwell family of Petoskey, MI, whom Betty loved as much as her own.

Betty was born on May 3, 1946, in Washington, DC. She was the daughter of Robert William Beers and Sarah Booth (Miller) Beers. In Washington, she attended Meret School and later Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. On July 8, 1967, she married Wally Stansbury in Washington, DC and became an Air Force military wife.  

Being a military wife, Betty adapted to differing job opportunities. While Wally was stationed in the Pentagon, she was the office manager for the Kengla Flag Company, providing national flags to their respective embassies. In Florida, she became an interior decorator for the Sears store in Fort Walton Beach.  Later, upon Wally’s retirement in Cocoa, Florida, she became involved in mission work, traveling to Honduras to teach sewing and quilting at a girls orphanage. At home, she volunteered to deliver “meals on wheels” to the poor in the area.  In addition, she spent more than a year taking our yellow lab, Sunny, to obedience training so that he would be certified to bring joy to disadvantaged children in various facilities.

Over the years we have been blessed to travel to various locations. Once on a cruise, Betty heard that the bags of a female passenger, about her size, had not been put onboard the ship. Even though she had never met this lady before, Betty lent her half of her clothes until her bags arrived.

From July 1986 until January 2007, Betty served on the Board of Directors of the W.C. & A.C. Miller Development Companies, a real estate and property management company in Washington, DC.

For most of her time while living in Boyne City and Petoskey, Betty assisted with administrative work at the Boyne Area Free Clinic. Regardless of the prevalence of various seasonal influenza viruses, Betty never failed to go in to help. 

For many years prior to kidney failure and starting dialysis, Betty taught herself how to quilt; how to weave various colors into beautiful patterns, which she would then give away. 

Betty was a member of the New Life Anglican Church in Petoskey, MI.  Her funeral service will be held at the church located at 219 State Street, Petoskey on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 11:00 am. Her interment is tentatively planned for May 3, 2026, at Greenwood Cemetery.

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