Betty Beasley

Betty Florence Vass Beasley, age 88, of Morristown, TN, passed away Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. She was born on July 4, 1927 in Hinton, WV. She enjoyed visiting nieces, nephews, and their children when the family gathered at Pipestem Resort, WV. Previously, the family gathered at the Hinton home place for great food and hours of laughter. As a kid, Betty skated all over Hinton and as a teen, she worked at GC Murphy's. She worked with the Girls' Auxiliary, serving snacks to GIs passing through Hinton on the C&O R.R. during WWII. She loved to dance and spend time with her friends at the soda shop. Her gorgeous, long, wavy, auburn hair always brought a second glance. Betty and Richard were married on September 27, 1945. While he attended Concord College, Athens, WV, she was a stay-at-home mom. In Pearisburg, VA, where he was band director, she was grade school secretary, and later, a Practical Nurse for Dr. Harold Turner. She made beautiful dance recital costumes, and was a Brownie Scout leader, teaching her girls everything from sewing to building campfires. After moving to Morristown in 1961, she was the Lumber Clerk at Berkline, retiring after 25 years. She delighted in keeping her granddaughters whenever possible, and later, her great-grandchildren. They did crafts together and learned about nature. In the past four years, Tom and Jackie helped her clear her "bucket list" of things to do. She will be greatly missed by her entire family. They were her joy and pleasure.

She was preceded in death by her father, Walter H. Vass; baby sister; and mother, Lena Wilson Vass; brothers, "Jimmy", Harold "Sug", and "Herb" Vass; step-mother, Ocie Huffman Vass, all of WV; her husband of 63 years, Richard W. Beasley; his brother, Thomas H. (Doris U.) Beasley; nephew, "Tom" Jr.; and half-brother, David Beasley. Betty is survived by her only child, Jacqueline "Jackie" Raye Beasley Buchanan Hale (Tom); much loved half-sisters, Marie V. Bennett (Dewey), of OH, and Juanita V. Meador, of WV, their children, and extended families. She also leaves her cherished granddaughters, Jennifer Buchanan Owen (Robert), of Knoxville, Stephanie Buchanan Brooks West; great-grandchildren, Ashley Brooks, Camryn and Ethan West, of Jefferson City. She also leaves her caring step-granddaughter, Rebecca Hale DeWitt (Jonathan), and children, "Charlie" and Josie DeWitt, of Maryville. She is also survived by extended Beasley family members, including Richard's special first cousin and geology cohort, Dr. Jerry Beasley, and his family.

At Betty's request her body was cremated. There will be a graveside service 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 28, 2015 at the Greenbrier Cemetery with Pastor Melissa White officiating.Family and friends may gather at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors at 1:00 pm on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.

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Graveside

NOV 28. 2:00 PM (EST)

Greenbrier Burial Park
Wiggins Crossing
Hinton, WV, 25951