Grace Elizabeth "Betty" Bush, 67, of Lexington Park, MD, passed away on February 21, 2013, surrounded by her loving family, after a short illness at the Hospice House of St. Mary's in Callaway, MD. Born November 8, 1945 in Baltimore, MD, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Elizabeth Barnes.

Betty was educated at the Cardinal Gibbons Institute, where she made life-long friends and experiences.

On May 19, 1965, she married her late husband, Curtis Bush at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lexington Park, MD. Together they celebrated 30 wonderful years of marriage before his death in 1995.

She was employed as a Building Services Manager for St. Mary's County Public Schools for 34 years at Greenview Knolls Elementary School. She was affectionately known as the "Red Hat Lady." She was most proud of the children that she worked with at Greenview Knolls. The teachers, staff and children were her second family.

She enjoyed music and dancing, and was known to get everyone out onto the floor. Betty loved to laugh and enjoyed all jokes no matter how clean or dirty. She truly enjoyed meeting new people. Betty never met a stranger, just a friend she had not met yet. No matter the situation, she would give you good advice, a shoulder to cry on, a smile to lift your spirits or do something that always seemed to make you feel like you were the most special person in the world.

Betty is survived by her sons, Mark Eric Bush (Heidi) of Great Mills, MD and Kelsey Bush (Cathey) of California, MD; her grandchildren, Elizabeth, Madison and Curtis; her siblings, Deniece Campbell of Fort Washington, MD, Marilyn Barnes of Great Mills, MD, Elaine Barnes of Leonardtown, MD and Kenneth Barnes of Mitchellville, MD; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Roland Barnes and her sister-in-law, Celestine Barnes.

Family will receive friends for Betty's Life Celebration of Thursday, February 28, 2013 from 10 to 11 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 22375 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, MD 20653. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Reverend Pawel Sass at 11 AM. Interment will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice House of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 and Health Share of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 1208, Leonardtown, MD 20650. The family expresses sincere thanks and gratitude to the Cancer Recovery Center and MedStar St. Mary's Hospital Cancer Care and Infusion Services.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.