Grace Bette Lu Albritton, 70, of Graton, died on Jan. 15 after a long battle with cancer.

Born in Windsor, the daughter of the late Elizabeth F. Hassett
and the late Alvin G. Murray, both of local pioneering families.
She spent her early years in Green Valley, graduated from Analy
High School and in her later years, retired to the Green Valley
Road Ranch started by her mother. She was very proud of her
family’s Sonoma County heritage and was a direct descendant of the
Shinn, Laughlin, Drake and Hassett families. Her great great great
grandfather Silas Shinn was a very early pioneer who first settled
along the Russian River after fighting in the Mexican War, crossing
the plains, and mining for gold. Her great great grandfather was
John D. Hassett, a former Sonoma County Sheriff who owned land near
Healdsburg, built the first lumber and flour mills in the area, and
helped to start the first area bank.
Bette was the wife of 49 years of Donald W. Albritton, Ret., a
Korean War Veteran. She is survived by her son David W. Albritton,
a Santa Rosa Police officer, daughter-in-law Susan M. Albritton, a
teacher, and grandchildren Sarah E. Albritton, who is attending UC
Davis, and Kevin W. Albritton, who is attending Santa Rosa Junior
College. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law Kathy
Albritton of Nevada and granddaughter Tori L. Albritton, a high
school senior. Bette survived two loving sons, who were taken from
her and Don at very early ages. They lost Steven D. Albritton, who
passed at the age of 17 from cystic fibrosis in 1977, and Gary L.
Albritton, at the age of 26, who was struck by lightning in
1989.
While living in the Larkfield area, Bette spent her middle years
in service to her family, friends and community. She worked for the
Mark West Union School District for 30 years, working in its
classrooms, on its playgrounds, and the last 20 years as a school
bus driver. She served as president of the District Parent,
Teacher’s Club, acted as an advisor with the Crossroads 4-H Club,
was president of the Mark West Little League, and worked on local
election committees. In her later life, Bette returned to
Sebastopol’s Green Valley where she remained active in her
community. Despite her health problems, she championed the cause to
save the historic building that had housed the old Green Valley
School and continued to work on local elections. In recent years
she was extremely proud to be associated with the Graton Volunteer
Fire Department. She felt honored to serve as the district’s
secretary, and considered the board members and firefighters as
family. As one of her last thoughts, Bette requested that any
donations be made to the Graton Volunteer Fire District to assist
the brave and dedicated firefighters in their efforts to serve and
protect.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service, at 2 p.m. on
Saturday, Jan. 22 at the Graton Fire Dept., 3205 Ross Rd. (at the
corner of Ross and Graton roads). Reception will follow. Private
family graveside services will be held at Shiloh District Cemetery
in Windsor. Donations in her memory may be made to the Graton Fire
Protection District, c/o Sue Davis, at the Graton Fire
Department.