Elizabeth “Bette” Statler Wusich Stofft

Well known local artist, philanthropist and Arizona native, “Bette” passed away on January 18, 2011. She was born August 15, 1917 in Cochise County, Arizona and lived all of her life in Arizona. Bette grew up in Glendale and attended Glendale High School, Woodbury Business School, Cox Business School and Arizona State University. Early in life she had a career in trust work at the Valley National Bank, where she met Nicholas Wusich, her first husband. She eventually became an Insurance Underwriter and Real Estate Broker, being a principal of the Statler Real Estate and Insurance Offices in Glendale. She and Nick subsequently became very active in farming, growing cotton and wheat in El Mirage – Surprise as well as operating the Lazy YU cattle ranch in Kingman. After Nick’s death in 1988, Bette married Fred Stofft, a three star Army General and they had eight wonderful years together until his death in 1996. Bette and Nick had one daughter, Barbara Wusich Young (W. Charles Young) of Paradise Valley. In addition to her daughter, Bette, is survived by her grandchildren, Kimberlee Reimann Padilla (Amador Padilla, Jr.) of Paradise Valley, Curt Daniel Reimann (Heather Reimann) of Tucson, Mary Abigail Hayo of Kansas City, Missouri, and William Edgerton Young (Inger Young) of Chillicothe, Missouri; and her great grandchildren Melaine Reimann Clark (David Clark), Morgan Reimann, Matthew Reimann, Edward Hayo, Michael Hayo, Johnson Young, Margo Young, Gunnar Young, and Emmitt Young. She is also survived by her close and cherished friend Peter Mantius. In addition she is survived by two nieces, Patricia Statler Aeed, and Dr. Joanne Tye, both of Prescott as well as the two daughters of Fred Stofft, Katherine Stofft Hawley of Phoenix and Suzanne Stofft Nystrom of Tucson. Bette was a very accomplished artist for over 50 years, traveling the world capturing its beauty on paper and canvas. Her work is owned by a wide variety of institutions as well as individuals throughout the United States and Mexico. All of her paintings are signed “Wusich” Bette’s Membership in art organizations included the Arizona Artists Guild, Arizona Water Color Society, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Charter Member Women in the Arts, Southern Arizona Artists Association, American Water Color Society and Grand Central Art Galleries, New York. Over the years Bette belonged to many civic and social organizations, including Paradise Valley Country Club, White Mountain Country Club, Arizona Country Club, Valley Field Riding and Polo Club, Phoenix Art Museum, Western Art Associates, Desert Botanical Garden, First Families of Arizona, Arizona Historical Foundation, Arizona Commission on Arts, Yarnell Historical Society, University of Arizona Foundation and Valley Presbyterian Church. Donations in memory of Bette can be made to: Arizona Cancer Center at Phoenix, University of Arizona, Att. Paola Villar Werstler, 1515 North Campbell Avenue, P. O. Box 245013, Tucson, AZ 85724-5013. Services will be private.