Betty L. Bragg

Betty L. Bragg

March 20, 1939 – December 31, 2025

Betty Lou Bragg, age 86 of Newport, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, with loved ones by her side, at the ProMedica Regional Hospital of Monroe.

Born March 20, 1939, in Monroe, Betty was the daughter of the late Abijah and Eva (Brown) McCollough. She graduated from Ypsilanti High School in 1957. Betty then continued her education at the Washtenaw Community College.

Betty met and married the love of her life, George Bragg, on October 20, 1990, in Monroe. They spent over 24 wonderful years together before George sadly passed away in 2014.

Betty was a lifetime member of the Brest Bay Sportsman’s Club Ladies Auxiliary, and a member of the East Rockwood and Dundee Sportsman’s Clubs, where she volunteered her time and prepared many meals. Betty was an avid trapshooter, and won the MCCC Travel League Lady Hi-Gun Award in 2006. As a strong advocate for shooting sports and youth trapshooting, she was mentor and coach to many. Betty led many Monroe’s Pride trapshooting squads to team nationals, and won a Youth Trapshooting Coach of the Year award. She was known as “Grandma” to everyone. She was also an avid Detroit Tigers Fan.

Betty retired from Ford Motor Company after 32 years of service. Prior to being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she lived a very active lifestyle which included traveling, trapshooting, white water rafting, digging for crystals in Arkansas and playing Pétanque with her Sabal Palm friends. For the past 3 years Betty has resided at the Alice Lorraine Care Center where she became an integral part of the family. She enjoyed music, activities, dancing and joking with the staff. 

Beloved mother of Rae Lynn Castle, Andy (Sandy) Castle, Bruce (Diane) Castle, Laurie (Michael) Vandevelde, George “Chip” (Daryl) Harwood-Bragg, and Kara Hicks. Loving grandmother of Travis, Gage, Chandler, Madison, Rachel, Jill, Jamie, Nick, Jordan, Rahanna, Christopher, Tiffany, and Wesley. Great grandmother of 11.

In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by husband: George Bragg; daughter: Leigh Castle-Ortega; infant sons: Buddy Ray and Darryl Allen Castle; great granddaughter: Kamryn Lamb; brothers: Blayne and Roy McCollough; and four-legged companions: Hershey and Bandit.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Rupp Funeral Home from 10 am until the time of service at 1 pm. In accordance with her wishes, cremation will conclude services.

The Bragg family wants to extend a special thank you to Alice Lorraine Care Center for the exceptional care they provided to Betty in her last years.

Memorial donations in honor of Betty are suggested to the Monroe Humane Socitey.

Online condolences may be sent to www.ruppfuneralhomeinc.com