Betsy Ann Broom

Betsy Ann Broom (Clark) of Yakima, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2023, with her loving husband, Moe, by her side, after a brief battle with cancer.

Betsy was born on September 25, 1952 to Joseph and Lillian Clark in Aurora, Illinois. After graduating from Freeport High School in 1970, Betsy attended Western Illinois University, where she received a Bachelors Degree in Education. Following graduation, Betsy drove across the country, to Yakima, with her mom to serve as the director of the YWCA summer camp. Yakima became her permanent home. Betsy later obtained a Masters Degree in School Counseling at Central Washington University.

In 1980 Betsy met her future husband, Moe, while taking a class at the local community access television station. They married on August 10, 1985. Betsy and Moe welcomed their daughter, Anny, the next summer.

Betsy began her professional career at Planned Parenthood, where she met a few of her lifelong friends. After receiving her Masters Degree in School Counseling, Betsy worked as a guidance and mental health counselor for middle and high school students in Yakima, East Valley, and Yelm school districts, before returning to Yakima to finish her career in education as a history teacher at Davis High School, retiring in 2018.

Betsy was a passionate lifelong learner, adventurer, and advocate. Betsy was always striving to learn new skills, hobbies, and ways to support others. After retirement, Betsy taught herself to paint, expanded her writing repertoire, and became a mediator with the Dispute Resolution Center. When asked about her place of employment, post retirement, Betsy would say she was a writer and an artist. She left behind many beautiful paintings and writing contributions. One of Betsys greatest adventures was a mission trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo to collect the stories of orphans living at the Jamaa Letu Orphanage. She also collaborated to collect and publish stories of women who had successfully completed incarceration through the God Pod. Betsy spent many hours volunteering with the United Women in Faith at Wesley United Methodist Church and supporting women through PEO. As a family, the Brooms also spent countless hours volunteering together behind the scenes at The Warehouse Theatre Company..

Some of Betsys greatest joys were spending time with friends and family, whether it be hiking or snowshoeing with friends, attending her monthly book club, or traveling with Moe and close friends, Betsy was always up for the next adventure. For the past year, her new love was spending time with her grandson Owen, who knew her as Lolli.

Betsy is survived by her loving husband of 37 years, Moe, her daughter Anny (Kelley) Melcher, stepsons Ryan (Candice) Broom and Mike (Becky) Broom , grandchildren, Owen, Christian, Sydney, Linnea, Sadie, and Chloe, sisters Kathy Bratcher and Pam Curtis, sister-in-law Kathy Broom, five nieces, and one nephew. Betsy is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Lillian Clark, in-laws Ron and Belle Broom, and brothers-in-law David Bratcher and David Curtis.

We would like to express heartfelt gratitude to our two amazing caregivers, who worked tirelessly to make Betsy as comfortable as possible, as well as made sure Moe and Anny were taken care of too. Secondly, thank you to our family and friends for all of the support, well wishes, visits, and prayers.

A celebration of life will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Yakima, on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 11:00am. For those who are unable to attend in person, the celebration will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/c/wesleyofyakima. A luncheon will follow. Betsy was a bright light so please help carry on that light by wearing bright, happy colors to celebrate her life.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Betsys name to PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization) Chapter FR, in care of Wesley United Methodist Church, or The Warehouse Theatre Company.

SERVICES

Celebration of Life
Saturday, May 13, 2023
11:00 AM
Wesley United Methodist Church
14 North 48th Avenue
Yakima, WA 98908