Elizabeth Ann Jarrard was born to Ferdinand and Pauline Stratton in Zionsville, Indiana, where she lived with her three siblings, Frank, David and Phyllis.

She graduated high school at age 16, and held several jobs from babysitting to writing for the Zionsville Times while attending college
classes.

At 18, after a particularly harrowing snow storm, Betty Ann and her best friend Beth drove to California.

During her time in Orange County, she enjoyed hobbies including her time in a “pots-and-pans” band, which was featured in the local paper.

Next, she worked for Centrolic School District in Buena Park, California, as a mail mimeo clerk at the district office, where she met Raymond Dennis Jarrard (husband of 60 years). Later, she was promoted to school secretary where she worked until she “retired” to start her family.

After living in El Segundo, Bakersfield, and San Luis Obispo, California, she landed in Santa
Barbara in 1978.

She lovingly raised three girls Kim, Katherine and Linda, while caring for her beloved pets (too many to name), and avidly volunteered for school and animal rescues, including BUNS.

She was thrilled to become Nana, and spent as much time as she could with her grandkids who adored her undivided attention.

Sweet as a saint, Betty touched so many lives and many considered her to be their
“second mom,” always there to listen and support not only family, but friends. Her
patience, sense of humor and gentle spirit will be remembered and celebrated every
day that she’s missed. Those who knew her are grateful they got to be loved by her so
unconditionally and unselfishly.

So gentle, yet unassumingly stronger than steel, Betty was a cancer survivor for more
than 20 years. This wasn’t the first or even the second time she’d cheated death. In
fact, by age 10, she’d already survived measles, mumps, chicken pox and scarlet fever.

One tough cookie, Betty even made it look easy to get knee surgery in her late 70s. After being diagnosed with cancer again in August, Betty continued to fight the aggressive stage
4 disease, being expertly treated at UCLA, Samarkand, and the Ridley Tree Cancer
Center before finally losing her battle with cancer on April 30.

Never wanting to be the center of attention, even in death, she discreetly and gracefully slipped away during the cover of night surrounded by loved ones.

Betty is survived by her husband Raymond Dennis Jarrard; her children Kim Schmitt
(Chris) of Washington; Katherine Hilzer (Tom) of Santa Barbara; Linda Barger (Bob)
of San Diego; and her grandchildren Alanna and Elizabeth Hilzer and Kalea and Mak
Barger.

If desired, donations can be made to the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara, Santa
Barbara Humane Society, BUNS or the local Animal Shelter.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 8 at Our Lady of Sorrows in Santa Barbara.

To leave an online memory or condolence, visit http://www.wrhsb.com.