In Memoriam: Betty McElhatten

In Memoriam: Long Time Akumal Visitor and Owner, Betty McElhatten

Betty McElhatten, frequent visitor to Akumal, nurse, author, artist, devoted mother and grandmother, died peacefully in her home on April 1, 2020, in San Diego.  Betty is survived by her eldest son Mark of New York City, and son David, his wife Francesca, and their two sons, Dylan and Finn, all of whom reside in Marina del Rey, Calif.

Betty would have been 90 years old on June 4th.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Betty was a part time owner of a villa in North Akumal with Bill Guynes and others.  Once she sold her piece of that property, she rented from Bud & Alice Blatner in Casa Zama.  Betty was always in Akumal for the month of January.

Betty was a fixture at the Beach Bar, back in the day, when the locals gathered at the bar when it was at the back of the beach bar restaurant, and we were there every night.  As a writer, Betty took copious notes in her journal about the daily comings, goings, and shenanigans there.  Although she published two books, Betty never turned her journal into that book so many were concerned about.

— submitted by Steve Clouther

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