Betty Jean (Schroeder) Fowler

Betty Jean (Schroeder) Fowler

Born to Bernard W. Schroeder and Edith (Gilbert) on August 26, 1939 in Dayton, OH and gone to rest in the arms of her loving Savior November 6, 2024 in Sierra Vista, AZ. Betty was born and raised in Dayton, OH except for a short time during WWII in which she lived in NY while her father worked for the Naval Yard as an electrician. In her childhood she enjoyed roller skating which turn into competing in roller skating dance competitions. Starting at the age of 13 she helped care for her younger sister Geraldine when her mom had to return to work.  She met and married her husband of 66 years, Claude (Ray) Raymond Fowler in the fall of 1958. The two of them moved out to Arizona in February of 1969. She joyously welcomed their son Shaun P. Fowler in September of 1970 after longing for a son for 12 years.

Betty knew God from a very young age, although she didn’t attend any church regularly as a child. When her mother came to live with them in the late 70’s she was influential in them starting to attend the Huachuca United Methodist church in Huachuca City, AZ. The family started attending Shiloh Christian Ministries in 1983 after their son Shaun started attending the school. Her time at Shiloh was filled with serving the house of the Lord in many ways.

In her early years, at Shiloh, she was involved as a care leader, worship team member and choir member. She eventually became a deaconess which then led her and Ray becoming co-head deacons at Shiloh for many years. Some of what she is remembered for, in her many years at Shiloh, is; preparing and cleaning up water baptism, running song lyric overheads during worship services, which eventually required her to learn how to create and use PowerPoint slides, she and Ray also led a small group for many years and they helped oversee the work of the deacons. Her later years of service at Shiloh were spent overseeing the cleaning team for their “new” facility on Avenida del Sol, starting in 2008 during construction of the facility.

Betty worked on Fort Huachuca as a telephone operator from June of 1970 until Dec. of 1984 when she quit her job to become a full-time foster parent. Betty felt a strong leading to ministry to what many would call the least of these. This led to them taking in many foster children and eventually adopting their second son Kenneth M. Fowler in November of 1990.

Over the years Betty took into their home many teens, mothers and their children when the need arose as well as others whom were in seasons of displacement and/or need. Betty did all of this with a heart overflowing with love and selflessness that not many could match. Many of whom still to this day call her mom or nana.

Other church members knew her to be kind, loving and generous, sometimes to a fault. She will be missed by so many more than her surviving family; husband Claude “Ray” Fowler, Sons Shaun (Tamra) Fowler, Kenneth (Britney) Fowler, grandchildren James, Megan, Brinlee and Aiden and great-grandchildren Lilly, Kohen, Ahria and Asher.

She has already heard “Well done my good and faithful servant … enter into the joy of your Lord” Betty was faithful to the work of the Lord while here with us and is now at rest in the presence of her Lord.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Shiloh Christian Ministries, 1519 Avenida del Sol, Sierra Vista, AZ, on Sunday, November 24, 2024, 4PM. The family requests that in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Shiloh Christian Ministries Children’s Building Project.  

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