My heart is broken. I wanted my fellow quilters and friends to know my sweet sister, Bette Weston Drecktrah died unexpectedly Monday morning. She was a guild member for many years and worked teaching quilt classes and selling and servicing sewing machines at Colonial Quilts beginning in 1984. Over the years, Bette was referred to by so many as the “Bernina lady”. Shortly, after Bette started to work at Colonial Quilts at the original location on DeRenne Avenue, she shared with me her new found passion; and I also began my quilting journey during the summer of 1984. My first call was always to her when I needed some kind of help or information that I had not learned about quilting, machine embroidery, hand embroidery and about her latest passion wool hand embroidery and applique.
Bette had several health issues in recent years that limited the time she could spend quilting and sewing. The good Lord only knows how many quilts and other quilted keepsakes she designed and made over the last 40 years. Bette learned to sew originally in school in Home Economics classes. Bette was one of the top ten seniors in her high school graduating class and also served as the Georgia state President of the Future Homemakers of America. I really cannot remember when Bette did not sew When her 3 girls were young, Bette made all of their clothes.
On November 8, Bette fell in her kitchen and broke both of her legs in two places. After two ortho surgeries to repair and stabilize both of her legs and physical pain I honestly do not know how she endured, she spent 14 days in Encompas Rehab and then transferred to Azalealand Nursing Home until last Friday, January 30. She went home walking again with the aid of a walker.
On Sunday morning February 1st, she fell in the bedroom and suffered a massive brain bleed. She succumbed to the injury just after midnight on Monday morning February 2.
Bette loved to quilt; however, her greatest passion was her three girls, Dora, Anita and Martha; her grandchildren (7) and her sweet great granddaughters, Rylee Beth (19 months old), Eloise Mae (14 months) and Adeline Savannah (4 months). Please know she was extremely fond of all she knew and shared her knowledge and passion for quilting with so many. Please be in prayer for her family especially Martha her daughter as well as mine and Bette’s extended Weston family and the extended Drecktrah family living in Germany.
I would love for you to join us as we celebrate Bette’s life and legacy.
https://www.stricklandandsonsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/bette-drecktrah