Mary Louise (Bettis) Shoolery
Mary Louise (Bettis) Shoolery, born on November 21, 1926 in Oak Park, Minnesota, to the late Pearl Mary Hedges Bettis and the late Claude Clement Bettis, passed away peacefully at age 91 on August 26, 2018 at Serenity House Hospice in Santa Barbara, California.
She was the beloved wife of the late Patrick W. Johnson; former wife of the late Dr. James N. Shoolery. She was preceded in death by her brother, Donald Bettis and sisters Verna Mae Bettis and Vivian Bettis Ferguson Robb. Mary Louise is survived by three sons, John of Palo Alto, CA; Bryan (Chandra) of Arroyo Grande, CA; and Mark (Kyle Borg) of W. Hollywood, CA; a sister; Milly Beggs of Lake City, FL; grandchildren Justin Shoolery, Taylor Shoolery, Athena Shoolery, and Jason Shoolery; stepchildren David Johnson (Marcine), Norman Johnson and Star Johnson of Chicago, IL and many nieces and nephews who will miss their Aunt Mary very much.
Mary Louise met James Shoolery in the Summer 0f 1950 at The Old Faithful Lodge at Yellowstone National Park where she and her sister, Milly held Summer jobs. During their 20 year marriage they raised a family of three sons in Los Altos Hills, CA.
In 1971 her interest in humanistic psychology led her to San Diego and studies with Herb Otto and Carl Rogers. She developed and facilitated seminars that helped people break free from old patterns, let go of negativity, forgive others and love themselves. Her work touched thousands and changed many lives.
In 1972, her interest in eastern religion led her to the Ananda Ashram in Pondicherry, India. After a year abroad, Mary Louise returned to the U.S. and met Patrick Johnson of Chicago, IL. They were married in February, 1977 at The Wooster School in Danbury, CT by Rev. Henry Hardy of Chicago’s Cosmopolitan Community Church and began a life’s work together which continued until Patrick’s death in April, 2014.
They were known by those close to them as ‘Hi’ and ‘Mahe,’ Sanskrit names that reflected their spiritual focus as Mother and Father. Together they became co-directors of Six Rivers Ranch and School in Zenia, CA (1978 to 1982) and created a successful curriculum based on the principles of the Intuitive Intellect. They moved to Santa Barbara in 1990 and published “The Wisdom of Loving,” a compilation of Mary Louise’s essays and poetry that addressed the essence and nature of the relationship between woman and man and continued through their lifetimes to be an inspiration to those who knew and loved them.
The family invites donations in Mary Louise’s name to Serenity House, Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Santa Barbara, 930 Miramonte Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93109.