A Tribute to Fallen AC Writer Betty Malone

Today I was going through my list of Associated Content fans and paying visits to some that I had not communicated with in a few weeks.

That's when I discovered that one fan and fellow AC writer had passed on.

The fan's profile said Betty Malone had died of a sudden illness.

Her daughter has posted the terrible news.

I then visited the link to her online memorial

click here

There I found several messages left by AC writers including " She made a big impression on me during our exchanges on Associated Content. She was absolutely the most faithful commenter on my articles and made many great suggestions. I just voted for her Ives article for the 2009 PMA Award for Best Content. Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss."

Also, "I am so shocked to hear this very sad news! I knew Betty as a wonderful mentor and fellow writer with Associated Content and Examiner.com. She gave so much encouragement and kind thoughts to inspire others. I am at a loss for words to express my sincere condolences for her family. She will be missed by countless people. Hopefully the family will have some comfort in reading all the comments form the people she touched with her kindness."

And, "I met Betty online through Associated Content, but even there she impacted me. I am deeply sorry for your loss and I pray that you are filled with joy at the memories you shared with her."

The list of comments is endless.

I then decided to look at some of the comments she had left on my articles.

I believe it was in early October that we started commenting on each other's articles.

She had published one of her "What I have learned from AC Writer's" articles. I left a comment that she had missed my "Squish Squash I was Having a Mammogram," article.

So she went to my page and commented that she had missed it and that AC has too many good articles.

After that she didn't miss commenting on many of my articles.

On Oct. 26 she commented on my article titled "A Collection of AC Comments that I have Received that Mean Something."

Her comment is very detailed and demonstrates the same feeling that I have about writing useful and educational stories, not just articles seeking page views.

Her comment reads: "I Think you've hit the writer on the head. :) Often I will look at the C4C and not find anything I can write about and feel I can communicate something helpful, and when I choose something, I try to offer an educational, informative or useful article, to hell with page views or with SEO. But if there is a news story going on and I can put my own angle or slant or opinion on it and I think it contributes to the conversation, then I'll write it. Good article Maria, and I'm always informed and helped by your articles, even the funny silly ones that make me laugh. Good for the soul, after all!"

That comment can now be added to the list of comments that I have received that mean something.

It appears that on Oct. 27 I gave her food for thought with an article on fantasy baseball.

She commented that she loved baseball and had never thought about playing fantasy sports.

On Nov. 1 she commented that she "Loved" the title of my organic sock article.

She also referred to my ChemoTales series as "Wonderful wonderful."

The last comment I received from Betty was on Nov. 4. It was posted at 2:11 a.m. and it was a wonderful comment on my story about a casino that had decided to help a senior citizen program that was suffering because of state budget cuts.

Her comment reads: "This was such a well written and informative article. I like how you told this story which may be reflected in lots of communities around the country."

These are just a sample of the comments I received from Betty in a short amount of time.

Her passing is drilling home some thoughts that I have had wondered about off and on.

First off, I think it is a good idea to compile a list of passwords and Web sites that you frequent and leave them available to someone so that if you should pass suddenly your online friends can be notified.

It was a shock and disturbing to find that message on Betty's profile today but at the same time it is good to know instead of wondering where she had gone or why she was no longer responding.

I'm sure we all have had online contacts that you hear nothing from anymore.

Also I have always wondered, how long does your AC page stay on the net in the event that you do pass on? Do the page views and earnings continue on? Can you leave the future earnings to your beneficiary?

I assume the answers are forever, yes and yes.

Whatever the answers I think Betty's passing reminds us that these things should be taken care of .

Her passing also demonstrates that despite the fact that many of us have never met face to face and probably never will, we still grow to know each other through our writings and comments and that we have developed online relationships.

Just one more demonstration of the power of the Internet.

May Betty rest in peace and her writings live on.