On the evening of February 2nd, our world became dimmer. We lost a beautiful light that shined on us in a way no other has. We lost our Mom, our wife, our friend, our fiercest protector, our teacher, our confidant, our brightest star in the night sky. Every fiber of her being cared so deeply about her family, humanity, fairness, equity, and decency. She believed that each of us had the responsibility to make this world a kinder, better place.

“She had a noble, kind soul and a piercing intelligence that let her analyze any problem, get right to the point, and come up with the best possible answer. When she saw problems in this world, she didn’t shy away from them. She stepped in, fully and voraciously. She asked, “What are we going to do?” She believed that one must speak up and get involved if you want to do good for all the people and animals and the earth.” Her mantra was, “Make a difference… Do Good Things.”

Understanding her ancestry provides some insight into Betty’s passion, sometimes feisty, for truth, equity, and fairness. Her ancestors fought in the American Revolution. In 2009, after attending Barak Obama’s Presidential inauguration, she took some of her grand kids to tour Gettysburg and showed them where the Pennsylvania monument stood that memorialized those Union soldiers who died, which included two of her great-great uncles. She was a lifelong Democrat who worked tirelessly, supporting, and electing democratic candidates to congress, state, county, and mayoral offices in Pittsburgh, PA and Ashtabula County, Ohio.

Betty loved her home, “the cottage,” that was once the Shady Beach annex at Geneva-on-the-Lake. The experiences at the “Lake” were her version of Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegon. She came to love the “Lake” as a kid, working summers at her Aunt Betty and Uncle Sam’s Collinger’s Court, now Lake House Inn. After cleaning rooms and making beds she would run with her friends at Chestnut Grove, enjoying the shores of Lake Erie.

Betty graduated from St Paul’s Cathedral high school and attended the University of Pittsburgh and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. She was an account executive and media director at Van Dine, Horton, MacNamara, Manges and at DDF&M. She was a marketing consultant at the Ashtabula County JVS, now the ATECH.

She is survived by her husband and true partner in life, Duane Feher; three children with Ronald Layport- Greg Layport, Kiera (Brian) Alderette, Rachel (Sam) Hartzberg; two stepchildren Steve (Jen) Feher, Traci (Jared) Ridenour; six grandchildren Aidin, Aaron, Asher, Leah, Justin, and Sydney; three sisters, Belinda, Patricia, and April; her beloved pets, Ingram, and Change.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Larry, and Jean (Villa) Wynn and her sister, Nancy; her beloved pets Maggie, Sluggo, Bear and Kitty Cat.

There will be a Celebration of Life this summer in 2022 at the “Lake.” Donations may be made to the Ashtabula County Animal Protective League, Ashtabula County Democratic Party, the Geneva-on-the-Lake Volunteer Fire Department, the Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum, the Ohio League of Women Voters, or an organization that you believe in and that embodies Betty’s passion. As Betty would say “it is not the destination, it is the journey”. Do good things.

Although her current Facebook page will no longer be active, we have created a Legacy page for Betty where we invite you to continue your conversations and hopes, and share stories of your special times with Betty. The link to the page, Betty Jane Layport-Feher, is:   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077574022412

Behm Family Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online obituary and condolences may be viewed at www.behmfuneral.com