Elizabeth Marie Betty Waddoups was born to William Burton and Mildred Serena Ireland in Erie County, New York on March 24, 1925. Betty was a proud Irish girl who always loved her family. She passed away peacefully, with family at her side, on June 7, 2012. Betty grew up in Buffalo, New York with her two younger brothers, William and Eugene. She attended Mount Mercy Catholic Academy where she excelled in school and was voted most likely to become a Girl Scout. She went on to graduate from the University of New York at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1948, the first graduate in her family. While at the university, she met and married a US Army Captain, Robert James Sickles, MD. During his military service, they were stationed in Nebraska, Utah, Idaho, and Alaska. Later, they settled in Twin Falls, Idaho, to raise their children, Robert, William and Cheryl. As a family, they enjoyed days at the lake, camping with friends and skiing at the local resorts. They were married 31 years. In 1968, the family moved to Washington and Betty began teaching at McLoughlin Junior High in Pasco. She was passionate about teaching and went on to earn a Master's Degree in Education from Washington State University in 1977. She retired in 1993, after 32 years of teaching, but never gave up her love of education or her pride in Pasco schools. In 1979, Betty married H. Marr Waddoups. They enjoyed 32 years of love, travel and companionship until his passing last year. She is survived by her children, Robert Terri Sickles, Cheryl Chuck Miller, and Bill Saida Sickles; grandchildren: Anne Alex Withers Sickles, Erin Sickles, Nathan and Erik Miller, and Billy Sickles; great-grandchildren: Sylvia, Philip, Elizabeth and Alice Withers-Sickles; sister-in law Diane Ireland and 8 nieces and nephews. She also has 4 stepchildren: Marla John Werner, Gary Cynthia Waddoups, Jan Tomlinson and Jon Julie Waddoups and their children: Michele Harold Walford Holden, Jeneane Conway and Jake Waddoups. Viewing will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 14 at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home, 1401 S. Union Street in Kennewick. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 15 at Mueller's with burial at Desert Lawn Memorial Park. A luncheon reception will follow at Mueller's. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to educational charities for children in memory of Elizabeth.