Tribute to Bette McConkey

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Many of our members know, or remember Bette McConkey who passed away Wednesday, March 10 following heart surgery.

Bette Ann McConkey

October 4, 1945 – March 13, 2021 (age 75)

Bette not only was most recently Vice President of our chapter, but engaged with our group in many generous ways.

Photo taken December 2017, for Bette’s
2018 Vice President position

Bette attended Saturday Sew-Ins. This is our first picture of her when she attended a Sew-In at Oxford Community Center: September 13, 2013.

April 6, 2014 Sew-In at Oxford Community Center
July 14, 2018: Saturday Sew-In at Belleview Public Library
January 25, 2020: Saturday Sew-In at Belleview Public Library

Bette joined us in welcoming guest presenters, and participated in workshops.

June 11, 2018 dinner at Mallory Country Club, with guest presenter Anne Sullivan
April 18, 2019 workshop with Carole Lyles Shaw, at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church

She participated in making our chapter charity quilts, and led our first-time group effort to make a donation quilt – this Delectable Mountains quilt.

September 14, 2015 meeting: Bette (on the right) showing the Delectable Mountains quilt top.
December 14, 2015 meeting: binding being hand-sewn to the quilt.
January 11, 2016 meeting: The finished quilt! (Bette on the right.)
December 11, 2018: Charity quilt team (Bette on the right) with the finished 2019 QuiltCon Charity Challenge Quilt
August 13, 2019: Bette was on the planning committee for the 2020 QuiltCon Charity Challenge quilt.
She sewed binding on the 2020 QuiltCon Charity quilt.
The team who led the making of our
2020 QuiltCon Charity Challenge Quilt.

Bette attended quilt retreats.

May 5, 2018 retreat at Luther Springs, Hawthorne, Florida
We’re all holding suckers.

At our annual December Holiday Party, Bette smiled with us.

December 2017 Holiday Party

And was quick to join our “cut-up photo,” and look as goofy as the rest of us!

December 11, 2018 Holiday Party

She regularly attended meetings.

January 14, 2014 meeting
May 14, 2018 meeting

At those meetings she gave… teaching what she knew how to do…

November 13, 2017: sharing how to use transparent paper
April 16, 2018: Leading a meeting as Vice President

… and participating in what others had to teach her.

May 14, 2018 meeting: “Foiling Around with Appliqué” with Selina

In her role as Vice President, Bette could be counted on to attend and contribute at our quarterly Executive Committee meetings. At regular monthly meetings she joined Show and Tell, sharing beautiful creations with a beautiful smile.

November 12, 2014 meeting
December 9, 2014 meeting
November 13, 2017: Bette participated in our 2018 Magazine Advertisement Challenge
May 13, 2019: It’s All About Color Challenge Quilt
June 17, 2019 meeting
November 11, 2019 meeting
March 2, 2020: Bette at our last in-person meeting, before COVID-19

Bette was also a regular at Zoom meetings like this one on September 15, 2020.

Our last photo of her is at our January 11, 2021 Zoom meeting.

At our February 8 Zoom meeting she told us she would have heart surgery the following month.

Bette was also active in Quilting Guild of The Villages and was a past president and member of Sterling Stitchers.

Our members will no doubt recognize the valuable contributions Bette made to Central Florida Modern Quilt Guild from 2013 to 2021. She was a dependable, contributing member who we will miss very much.

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