Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) Peyton, 80

Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) Peyton of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, went home to be with the Lord on June 15, 2021, at Sunset Home in Bonners Ferry after a long struggle with cancer. Betsy was 80 years old.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bonners Ferry. The vigil (Rosary) will be at 7 p.m. Monday, June 28, 2021. Interment to be held at a later date.

Born Feb. 15, 1941, in Washington, D.C., to Lt. Col. Leon K. Bryner and Mary Virginia Lauderdale Bryner, Betsy grew up in Arlington, Va. Upon graduation from Wakefield High School, she attended the Washington School for Secretaries in Washington, D.C. Betsy furthered her education at Radford College in Christiansburg, Va., and later received her associate degree in general studies at Northern Virginia Community College in Woodbridge, Va.

Unbeknownst to her, Betsy met the love of her life, Tom Peyton in the 7th grade at Dolly Madison Junior High School in Arlington. Many years later, they crossed paths again in Monterey, Calif. After a year-long courtship, they were married in Carmel, Calif., on Nov. 27, 1971.

Betsy spent her career with the U.S. Department of Interior as a contracting officer and program analyst. Upon retirement in 1997, Betsy received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the second highest award bestowed to civilian federal employees for their public service.

In the mid-1990s, Betsy and Tom took a trip to the Pacific Northwest to visit family, and they fell in love with North Idaho. On a later trip to Bonners Ferry to visit Tom’s brother they decided northern Idaho would be their retirement destiny and in 2000 they moved from Woodbridge to Bonners Ferry.

Betsy was a devout member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church where she was involved in the Altar Society, Liturgy Committee and a weekly Usher.

She enjoyed walking and gardening. She had a lifetime interest in art and enjoyed doing various crafts, sewing, stenciling and engraving. But her favorite thing to do was spend time with her family. Betsy rarely missed her grandchildren’s ballet recitals, marching band and music performances, and soccer games. She also enjoyed spending time with her dogs, Muffin and Chum.

Betsy was preceded in death by her parents, Lt. Colonel Leon K. and Mary V. Bryner; in-laws, Col. Hamilton M. and Elizabeth (Betsey) Peyton; brother, Leon (Lee) K. Bryner; Jr. and brother-in-law, Richard Brennan.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Thomas (Tom) R. Peyton; children, Mollie (Bruce) Yeatts of Bainbridge Island, Wash., Beth (Travis) Walker of Bonners Ferry and Chip (Kenyette) Mills of Gore, Va.; grandchildren, Peyton Elizabeth Yeatts of Bainbridge Island, Sarah Rachel Walker of Lynchburg, Va., and Daniel Joseph Walker and Noah Michael Walker of Bonners Ferry; brother-in-law, John (Luise) Peyton of Bonners Ferry; sister-in-law, Jean Peyton Brennan of Salinas, Calif.; sister-in-law, Susan Bryner of Mineral, Va.; nephews, Leon K. (Kirk) Bryner of Culpepper, Va., Gordon Peyton of Moscow, Idaho, Paul (Janette) Brennan of Santa Cruz, Calif., and Brian (Wendy) Brennan of San Jose, Calif.; niece, Ann (David) Gass of Austin, Texas; devoted cousin, Meigs Lauderdale Ranney of Chevy Chase, Md., numerous grand nieces and nephews; and dear loyal friends, Judy Shearer of Bonners Ferry, Don and Mary Kay Dinning of Bonners Ferry, Terrie Fajardo and Emogene Bevitt of Brookeville, Md., and many wonderful neighbors.

Betsy will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her, but we rejoice that she is released from pain. She is free and with the Lord.

The family wishes to extend a special thank-you to the staff at Sunset Home, and to Gail Dirks, for their loving care of Betsy and support to Betsy’s family over the past year.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bonners Ferry, Sunset Home, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, Samaritan’s Purse, or the American Cancer Society.

Family and friends are invited to sign Betsy’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.