Sue Betts Obituary

Sue Ellen Wills Betts, age 68, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2020 at Penrose Hospital Hospice in Colorado Springs, CO from complications with COPD.

Sue was born to Jennie (Kern) Wills and William J. Wills on Feb. 19, 1952 in Pueblo, CO.

She graduated from South High School in Pueblo and later moved to Pagosa Springs, where she started her career in law enforcement. Leaving Pagosa, she moved to Cortez in 1983 joining the City of Cortez Police Department where she was an officer for the next 29 years; 21 of those years she was a supervisor, until she retired as a Sergeant in 2012.

Sue loved the people and her city. She recently was elected to a second term as a City Council member, and she was also a board member of the Historic Preservation and Mesa Verde Country. She never gave up trying to serve the people, and she was always proud of Cortez and being part of the community. She taught CPR to many through the years.

A lot of you remember the DARE Lion that was at graduation, school functions, and in parades. It was Sue under that big head and with those large paws!

Her most cherished love was for her family, friends and animals. Her grandson Ashton Orr and her granddaughter Kadance Orr were her world.

Some remember her by her animals, as she always had a Siamese cat, at least 1 dog, and of course her talking parrots!

Stories are plentiful of how much she helped others, or how she changed their lives. There were young people that she helped turn around, who went on to college and now have great jobs, or when she spoke up to save someone from losing their job. She never tired of trying to help. She said recently if she could change anything it would be to keep others from smoking, or encourage them to stop.

She was a great cook, and was always making someone a special cake; her green chili pork and avocado burritos, and Mexican pizzas were the best. She would always leave you with a smile.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jennie and William (Bill) Wills and her brother Johnny Wills.

She is survived by her son, Jerry Orr, Cortez, CO; granddaughter, Kadance Orr; grandson, Ashton Orr; brother, Jerry (Vicki) Wills, Pagosa Springs, CO; sister, Shirley Saddoris, Beulah, CO; nephews, Jake (Roxanna) Wills, Hank (Stacey) Wills, Randy (Deb) Wills, and Wade (Margo) Wills; niece, Tabatha (Jim) Hartman; and many others.

At Sue's request, no services will be held.

Until "The Twelfth of Never", we will love and miss you.