Elizabeth Grace Taylor Safford

Elizabeth Grace Taylor Safford, 91, of Colorado City, Texas and Port Arthur, Texas died Thursday, July 21, 2016 at Magnolia Manor Nursing Home in Groves. She was born September 11, 1924, London, England. Betty lived through the Blitz in London during World War II. She left school at 14 to work first in a grocery store, then in war factories. She worked making insulated wiring for aircraft, then, when that factory was bombed, she worked making snow goggles for the ski troops. Her lifelong philosophy of "Chin up and chest out" helped her through the rigors of wartime and peacetime life. She met Cpl. Don F. Safford at a dance for American soldiers at the Covent Garden Opera House and eventually married him. When Cpl. Safford was shipped home at the close of the war, Betty was pregnant with her first child. She followed her husband to the United States aboard the HMS Queen Mary with her infant daughter in 1946. She and her family lived in several places before settling first in Stinnett, Texas, and then in Colorado City, Texas, where she worked for many years at Perkin's Apothecary and Mercantile. Her favorite task was advertising on the radio for the store in her crisp British accent. Four years ago she moved to Port Arthur to live with her daughter Janet and son-in-law Raymond Cline. She is survived by her daughter Janet and son-in-law Ray of Port Arthur; her son Don and daughter-in-law Yolanda of Carrollton, TX; grandsons Roger Cline of Big Spring, TX; Martin Cline (Brittney) of Seattle, WA; Don Safford (Michelle) of Jacksonville, FL; granddaughter Allyson Safford of Sacramento, CA; great-grandchildren Aliya Safford and London Safford of Jacksonville, FL; and her sister Joan Edwards (Bill) of London, England. She was preceded in death by her husband Don F. Safford of Colorado City and her brother Roger Jordan of London. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Sunday, July 24, 2016 from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 25, 2016 at the United Methodist Temple with Reverend Guy Williams officiating. Burial will be in Colorado City Cemetery. Friends wishing to make memorial contributions may send them to: United Methodist Temple or the United Board of Missions.