Betty Bingham

Long-time Safford resident Betty Jean Kelley Bingham passed away peacefully during the early morning on April 29, 2021 at the age of 90. She was born July 17, 1930 to Lorene and Harmon Kelley in Ada, Oklahoma. She lived most of her childhood in Bromide Oklahoma, a little mineral springs resort town. Her family moved to Morenci, Arizona when she was 13 as her father found work at Phelps Dodge copper mines. There she met and married Bobby Ray Merrell and had four children; Clint, Charlotte, Janice and Kalin. Betty and Bob moved their family to Bisbee, Arizona where Bob worked as a geologist for the copper mines. Their marriage was dissolved after six years but they remained friends throughout their lives for their children. In 1954 Betty moved with her children to Safford, Arizona where she met and married Robert Jay Bingham. They soon purchased a house on 12th Street where she was able to live, raise her children and peacefully pass away. Betty was a hard-working mom and happily retired from Thriftee Supermarket in 1992. She then selflessly cared for her elderly mother and her son Clint. She lost her life partner Robert in 2010 and then her son in 2011. Betty is survived by her sister Helen Joyner of Tulsa, Oklahoma, her three daughters; Charlotte May of Washington, Kalin ( Wendell) Goad of Colorado and Janice Knight of California, along with 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and lastly many great friends. Betty was interred at the Safford Union Cemetery in Safford, Arizona.