Elizabeth Higgins Cutts

Elizabeth Cutts

1935-2026

Elizabeth, “Betty,” Cutts born September 27, 1935, peacefully entered into eternal rest on Friday, June 5, 2026, in Rockville.  Betty was born to Thomas and Elizabeth Nash in Bellshill, Scotland.  She grew up with 5 brothers and sisters, John, Rebecca, Tom, Helen and Frank.  As a child, she loved to read and was well known for always having her head in a book.  She also ran about outside playing with her siblings and other children or running errands for her mother.  Her father was killed in action in Egypt during WWII, after that her family moved to Nottingham, England.  With 3 younger siblings she helped look after, she developed her love of caring for others, which translated into a nursing career as an adult.   After studying nursing in Nottingham, she undertook further studies in midwifery in Edinburgh, Scotland where she found being a midwife was her passion.  Her first nursing job was in Nottingham, England.  She married Brain Cutts and travelled with him to Australia where they lived from 1965-67. After the marriage dissolved, Betty returned to England and lived in Sussex. 

With a love of travel and adventure, she interviewed for a job as a nanny and moved to the United States in 1968 for the Wilkinson family.  She adored taking care of 2 little girls, Linda and Susan, during the day but kept her passion as a night nurse, which she loved and became the nurse manager at Collingswood.  Directing other nurses, leading them to excellence and careers of their own was satisfying and she touched many lives.  Moving over to Manor Care Nursing facility she was able to train and mentor many others who care for patients today, her attention to detail and drive for excellence daily has worn off on those that worked with her and her legacy continues to live on.  The care and dedication she gave to her patients was recognized many times by the families of those under watchful eyes and by her employers.  She did try to retire many times but was convinced to stay time and again as her employers knew what an asset she was to their institutions.  She was a mentor to many young people both at work and with neighbors, friends and others she met.  Betty was always ready and happy to help no matter if you called with an injury or illness or if you needed advice or a recipe, she loved to take care of others even after retirement.

She loved to travel and visited Australia, Japan, Norway, Iceland, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean Islands, and all over the United States.  Living in Scotland, England, Australia and the United States, she lived life to the fullest.  Always with a smile and ready for conversation on any topic, she took advantage of her time on earth.  Most of her life she had pets, even a dog who followed her on her midwife runs as a young nurse in England.  Later, she shared her life with cats and loved to care for them, have them sit on her lap and spoil them into old age.  In retirement, Betty continued to live life on her terms, happily traveling, reading, baking, watching police shows/movies and talking to friends or telling stories. 

Betty was a loving daughter, sister, aunt and mom to many.  She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Tom and sister Rebecca.  She is survived by her brother, Frank, her sister, Helen, nieces Lynn, Rebecca, Marie, Jane, Rebecca, nephews Stephen, Andrew, Jimmy, Tommy and both children she helped raise, Linda and Susan.  She had a very generous spirit and was a blessing to all who crossed her path.  Her legacy of service, strength, love, kindness and devotion will continue to inspire all who knew and loved her.  She will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.

Betty’s life will be celebrated at a memorial service on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 10am Eastern Time at Snowden Funeral Home, Rockville, Maryland.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to Montgomery County Maryland Humane Society or the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

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