SAN DIEGO'S BETTY (Verse 1) Born in nineteen-nineteen, San Diego summer day Only child of Lyle and Emily, in Brooklyn Heights she'd play Mi Casita in the garden, carillon ringing clear From the California Tower, sweet music she could hear Growing tall and graceful, with a smile so warm and true Balboa Park her playground, where the city's culture grew (Verse 2) Phi Sigma Nu in college, San Diego State her home Teaching art at Wilson when she met the one she'd known Fred came out from Massachusetts, dinner at a student's place One look across that table and she'd found her saving grace July of forty-two they wed, the world was still at war Started building something that would last forevermore (Chorus) Betty, oh Betty, with your artist's gentle hands Painting all the beauty of these California lands From a shy girl to a mother, teacher, craftsman, friend Living life with kindness from beginning to the end Betty, oh Betty, your legacy remains In the hearts you touched and the love that still sustains (Verse 3) Three sons she raised with patience, Randy, Stanley, and young Scott PTA and teaching, giving all the love she'd got In the sun room painting watercolors, catching light Thirty-thirty on the corner where the view was just right Then she found her passion in the enamel's copper glow Angels, birds, and ornaments—her art began to flow (Verse 4) Never drove a single day but walked with head held high Took the bus through San Diego underneath that endless sky Four granddaughters came along to brighten up her years Reading on the deck at Point Loma, through the joys and tears "Be kind to everybody"—that's the wisdom that she'd share Simple words that showed the way she chose to live and care (Bridge:** From Fern Street to Harbor View Through the decades, she stayed true Eighty-two years of San Diego sun A life of love, a race well run And when she closed her eyes to rest She'd given all, she'd given her best (Chorus) Betty, oh Betty, with your artist's gentle hands Painting all the beauty of these California lands From a shy girl to a mother, teacher, craftsman, friend Living life with kindness from beginning to the end Betty, oh Betty, your legacy remains In the hearts you touched and the love that still sustains (Outro) Now she sleeps at Fort Rosecrans, Fred beside her still Looking out on the Pacific from that sacred hill And the family that she nurtured carries on her name Betty Virginia Seaver—we honor your sweet flame In every act of kindness, in every work of art Betty, you're still with us, living in our hearts
