Elizabeth (Betty) R. McLaren

After a long and rich life, Elizabeth (Betty) R. McLaren, age 96, of Erie, PA, passed away peacefully in her sleep Sunday, August 4, 2024, at Forestview Skilled Nursing Center. She was born in Ann Arbor, MI on January 31, 1928, the daughter of the late David W. and Mary Elizabeth Orr Rettew.  

She graduated from Mercyhurst Prep School in 1945, and the University of Michigan in 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and did graduate work at Gannon University. She worked for the Trade Association in Chicago, IL and was the office manager for the Erie Day School. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant where she was an Elder, Trustee and Deacon and served on several Pastoral Search Committees. Her proudest accomplishment was serving as moderator for the Presbytery of Lake Erie. She was the past president of the Erie County Medical Auxiliary, the Achievement Center and the Presbyterian Home Board; was a former treasurer of the Junior Philharmonic Board and P.E.O. She was an active member of the Junior League of Erie and was involved with numerous PTO’s of her 5 children’s schools. 

Betty loved her large extended family, celebrating holidays together and regular reunions at the North Carolina shore. She had a wide circle of friends with whom she enjoyed tennis, skiing, Quad games, golf, Michigan football games, traveling, book clubs, Chautauqua, and charitable activities. Betty also spent some of her favorite shared time at the family farm retreat, entertaining family and friends and tending her flower beds. She was very active throughout her life and even skied on her 80th birthday at Vail with her children and grandchildren trying to keep up with her down the mountain. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Harold J. McLaren, her son James G. McLaren, her brothers D. William Rettew and James F. Rettew, and sister-in-law Sally C. Rettew. She is survived by her children: Robert McLaren (Eugenie), Nancy McLaren (Phil Nieburg), Barbara Bever (James) and Thomas McLaren (Kaye). Betty is further survived by 11 grandchildren (Ian McLaren (Mandy), Molly McLaren, Patrick McLaren (Lyndsey Bruno), Hillary McLaren (Ahmad El-Arabi), David Nieburg (Caitlin), Sarah Nieburg, Nathan Nieburg, Adam Bever (Emilly), Ben Bever (Jess), Aaron Robson (Abbey) and Adam Robson. She also had 9 great grandchildren (Henry and Declan Mclaren, Aya El-Arabi, Emma, Aiden and Ryan Nieburg, Myka and Calvin Bever and Piper Robson. She had numerous nieces and nephews she was also very close to and whom she loved very much. and her close friend and sister -in -law, Doris Rettew, who was like a sister. 

The family would like to thank all the staff at Springhill, Oakview, and Forestview for their thoughtfulness and care, especially during these last months of her life. We’d also like to thank her nieces, Elizabeth Rettew Thompson and Melissa Wenzler and their families for the loving care and attention they always gave her.  

Friends are invited to a memorial service at First Presbyterian Church of The Covenant, 247 West 6th St., Erie, PA on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 11:00 am. The service which will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/BurtonQuinnScott/. A reception in the church parlor will follow immediately after the service with burial in the Erie Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Safe Net or the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle Young Readers Program.

Arrangements are entrusted to Burton Quinn Scott Cremation & Funeral Services, Inc., Downtown, 602 West 10th St., Erie. Condolences may be sent to www.BurtonQuinnScott.com.