Elizabeth “Betty” Jean Buckingham Higbee, 90, died in Salem, Oregon, following an injury.

Betty was the youngest of two children born to William H. and Fern Whittaker Buckingham in Westwood, California. Her brother, William (Bill) Buckingham Jr., is deceased.

She attended Medford schools, later moving to Roseburg, Oregon, and marrying the late David Grubb. She later married the late Larry Higbee.

In Roseburg, Betty worked at Luverne’s dress shop and for Dr. William Streitz, retiring from Streitz’s office after 19 years. In 2012 she moved to Independence, Oregon, and to Salem in 2016. She spent her final years at Prestige Senior Living Orchard Heights where she was given excellent care.

Betty raised two children, Steven A. Grubb (wife, Nadine), of Corvallis, and Diana M. Ahlbin, of Salem. Grandchildren are John E. Elmore of Sitka, Alaska, and David W. Elmore of Anchorage, Alaska. Great-grandchildren are Nathaniel Ditty of Anchorage, Alaska; Christina M. Elmore of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Cassandra N. Elmore of Tampa, Florida, and the late Dylan G. Elmore.

Her friends and family remember her as a fun-loving social butterfly who loved entertaining and had a contagious laugh.

A celebration of life will be held in August in Glide. For more information, e-mail [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty’s name to Seattle Children’s Hospital in honor of her great-grandson Dylan.