Our wonderful mother, grandmother and sister Betty-Jo Tavenner, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on Friday, February 3, 2012. She was born May 28, 1923 in Roseburg, Oregon to Arthur Pryds Nelson and Hazel Deliah Peterson. She married her lifelong companion, Jake Fowler Tavenner, on March 10, 1942 in Roseburg. They were later sealed to each other and their children in the Logan, Utah LDS temple on October 11, 1960. Betty-Jo and Jake raised six children on their farm in Myrtle Creek. Betty-Jo loved being with her children and grandchildren and shared many of her life stories with them. She enjoyed music, and shared her singing and yodeling talents with family and friends. Betty-Jo could play music by just hearing the song. Although she didn't read music, she composed many songs along with the lyrics. Her other hobbies and talents included drawing, painting and writing poetry. She enjoyed gardening and had many beautiful flower gardens. She loved to crochet and made numerous afghans and elaborate dresses for porcelain dolls. Her family and friends will treasure the items she made for all of them. She was an avid reader and had a large collection of books. Her love for reading and learning has been passed on to her posterity. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints. She held numerous church callings. She was a primary teacher, a music director, and a stake missionary with her husband, Jake. She loved genealogy and spent many hours collecting and sharing information with others. She was happiest when she was spending time with her family. She loved the many family trips, camping, fishing, going to the ocean or mountains. She and Jake traveled to Utah often to visit family. Shortly after Jake retired, they moved to Ogden, UT and loved living closer to their children and grandchildren. But Oregon was still home, so after about seven years they moved back to their ranch house in Myrtle Creek. Our family has many fond memories of spending time with mom and dad. Betty-Jo always tried to make every family gathering a special occasion. She is survived by her children, Larry (Pat) Tavenner, Ogden, UT; Loretta (Marlow) Peterson, Mt Pleasant, UT; Sharon (Steve) Patrick, Louann, AR; Thomas (Janilee) Tavenner, Richfield, UT; Tim Tavenner, Seattle, WA; and Kristi (Gary) Egger, Myrtle Creek; 28 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Stan (Juanita) Nelson, and Leon (Irene) Nelson, Yuma, AZ. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Jake, parents, Arthur and Hazel, brother, Wayne Nelson and sister-in-law, Jewel Nelson. Services will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 1 p.m. at the Myrtle Creek LDS Chapel, 876 Lillian St., Myrtle Creek, Oregon. Friends may visit with the family at 12:30 p.m. prior to the funeral.