Betty Crocker Archer

Betty Claire Crocker Archer was born October 1, 1935, and went home to be with the Lord, on August 22, 2019, at the age of 83. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank W. Crocker, Sr. and Ruth Irma Dick Crocker; her siblings, Frank W. Crocker, Jr., Donald Crocker, Sr., and Audrey Crocker Cones; and her beloved husband William P. Archer, Sr. She is survived by her sisters Ruth Helen Crocker Bergeron and Geralyn Crocker Feliu, by her children, Cynthia Ann Archer, Pamela Archer Mirovich (Dannie), and William P. Archer, Jr. (Colleen), and her grandchildren, Rebecca, Lacy, and Danielle Mirovich, and Emily, Meredith, Paul, and John Archer.

Betty lived a full life. The stories from her youth painted a picture of joyful family life in the Irish Channel and later in Metairie. She remembers Metairie at the time they moved there as a swampy rural land, with cows in fields and unpaved roads. Betty was a good student, first at St. Alphonsus grammar school where she began her studies at 4 years old. She was so upset that her older sister was starting school without her that the nuns told her mother to put a uniform on her and let her come, too. She attended Redemptorist High School, where she played the trumpet and the French horn and was Football Queen in 1951. It was at Redemptorist that a nun introduced her to William Archer, who would later go on to be a Captain in the New Orleans Fire Department. She married him in 1953, and although she was widowed after just 23 years, he was her lifelong love. As a young mother, she shared her love of Carnival with her family. She and her sister would spend parade days driving their costumed children all over town to watch the fun. As a grandmother, she generously welcomed her children and grandchildren and their friends into her home for food and a place to sleep during Mardi Gras. When her children were younger, she volunteered in their schools and with the Girl Scouts. She also worked at several different jobs; one of her favorite jobs was school secretary at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. She still has many of the cards, gifts, and tokens of affection she received during the time she was there. She was also a diehard New Orleans Saints fan and reveled in their Super Bowl XLIV victory in 2010. She was very hopeful about this upcoming season! Betty spent her retirement years enjoying the company of her children and grandchildren. She took particular delight in going to their school and playground sporting events. Just weeks before she died, she was cheering on her youngest grandson’s summer basketball team. In the last several years, she developed a community of friends and fans in Richardson, Texas at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Community and “Friend’s Place,” where she was known as “Sweet Betty.” We are so grateful that she was able to share her kindness, patience, and humility for so long. She was one of a kind and is already deeply and sorely missed.

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