Betty Jane ''Bj'' Laven Engquist

BETTY JANE "BJ" LAVEN ENGQUIST, age 86, of Chestertown, MD died of natural causes at Heron Point of Chestertown, MD on April 21, 2008. Born in Anderson, IN, she was the daughter of the late Charles Lester and Thelma Marguerite Rhoton Laven and wife of the late Elmer Howard Engquist. A resident of Harford County since 1950, she taught special education at Highland School in Street, MD and John Archer School in Bel Air, MD. She moved to Heron Point Retirement Community, Chestertown, MD in 1999. She was a dedicated member of First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air, MD, where she was very active. She was a member of the Eastern Star and the Bel Air Rotary Inner Wheel and a past Brownie leader. She loved to paint, read, and write and loved wildlife, especially birds. She was very artistic and spiritual.

Mrs. Engquist is survived by a son, John Frederic Engquist of Alpharetta, GA; four daughters, Karen Jane Buros of Larchmont, NY, Susan Hurley of Bel Air, MD, Cynthia Ann Engquist of Annandale, VA, and Candyce Linnea Burke of Bel Air, MD; a sister, Patricia Laven Messler, of FL; 12 grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air, 224 North Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014.