Betty Gayle Smith - 1963
BIO & Picture

Betty Gayle Smith – 2008-06-27

I am retired since surviving a stroke on July 12, 2003 which has disabled the left side of my body.  Prior to that, I spent 40 years working in the insurance industry and teaching history and geography to 8th graders in Houston, Tx. The teaching was the first career after M.U., with that being 6 yrs.  I moved back to Boone County in 1985.

My current interests are in labyrinths and peace poles.  My goal is to establish labyrinths for walking meditation in all the schools in Boone County.  I have been setting up temporary labyrinths at Earth Day and First Night, with a lot of help from my friends, for the past several years.  We have established a permanent wildflower labyrinth near Centralia, 2 other labyrinths at local churches, and a small one in my front yard.  Our group is called Labyrinths of Turtle Island.  I also have assisted in establishing and dedicating Peace Poles in Boone County and adding to the over 220,000, worldwide.  Everybody needs a Peace Pole in their front or backyard.

Since our last reunion, which I missed most of it due to the stroke, I have driven to Texas twice, to check on some property I still own there, and also have enjoyed a trip to Saskatchewan to give a presentation at the International Master Gardeners Convention.  I work with the Plant A Row for the Hungry project in our local master gardener group in providing fresh vegetables to the local food bank.  During the past five years, I have also worked with the English as a Second Language Literacy Program, and most recently have worked with a family from Liberia.  I try to stay active and not depressed by keeping as busy as possible even though deafness in the left ear and inability to maintain balance are very real frustrations and challenges to me.  I want to be able to get to Machu Picchu, yet.  Best wishes to all of you.  Betty Gayle Smith