Dr. Betty L. Yantis

Dr. Betty Louise Watts Yantis, founding director of the UNLV Center for Business and Economics Research and UNLV Professor Emeritus, passed away Oct. 17, 2012, in Las Vegas. She was born Dec. 29, 1932, at Little Rock, Ark. She earned her B.S.C.E, M.S.C.E., M.A., and Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. She also attended Baylor University. Betty was the founding director of the UNLV Center for Business and Economics Research, and for many years led research development in Las Vegas. She finished her career at UNLV and was bestowed with the honor of Emeritus status shortly after retirement. She taught in France, England, Italy, Turkey, Germany, and at UNLV Las Vegas, the University of Arkansas Fayetteville, and the University of Kentucky. She was preceded in death by husband, John Edward Nixon; parents, Mary Louise Walker Watts and Virgil Ralph Watts; sister, Mary Jane Watts of Little Rock; and brother, Ralph Marion Watts of Jacksonville, Ark. She is survived by daughters, Laura Rey (David Endicott) of Toronto, Canada, and Bonnie Charles Yantis of Oklahoma; sister, Ginna Watts Watson (Robert) of Hot Springs, Ark.; granddaughter, Rachel Clare Endicott-Rey of Toronto; niece, Deborah Louise Dodge of Lonsdale, Ark.; nephew, Dean Cecil Dill of Hot Springs, Ark.; great-niece, Alora Louise Dodge; great-nephew, Joseph Thomas Dodge of Lonsdale, Ark.; step-children, Robert MacGregor Nixon (Angela) of Las Vegas, and Patricia Nixon Reid of St. George, Utah; and step-grandchildren, Carol Nicole Nixon, Kyle Jack Nixon, Jared Edward Nixon and Leah Jennifer Nixon, all of Las Vegas. Betty had an enormous capacity for love, generosity, compassion, learning and inspiring others to embrace the importance of gaining knowledge that would be used for the betterment of mankind. A reception to celebrate Betty's life will be from 10 a.m.-noon, Friday, Oct. 26, at Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. In lieu of flowers, Betty's request was for gifts to the be sent to the University of Arkansas, College of Engineering, 1125 W. Maple St., Fayetteville, AR 72701.

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