Bettie (Owens) Catron passed peacefully on June 4, 2024 at the age of 95 in Eustis, Florida.

Bettie and her sister Maxine were born to parents Delbert and Bessie (Gatten) Owens.  Their beloved mother Bessie passed from an illness when Bettie and Maxine were toddlers and they were raised by their grandparents Jim and Laura Owens and grew up in Southern Ohio.

Bettie enjoyed a wonderful, if modest, life on a farm where she learned to appreciate gardening, horticulture, animal husbandry and the blessings of a close-knit family. The family had a fierce loyalty to each other that lasted until Bettie took her last breath.

After Bettie graduated from high school, she worked in a shirt factory and lived in town for a while. She remembered that she enjoyed that independence.

Bettie was married early in her young adult life to Kentuckian James (Jim) Catron.   Jim had enlisted in the Army and was in boot camp getting ready to ship off to Korea when his buddy Bay Carpenter introduced Bettie to Jim and they began to correspond and sneaked in a few visits before his military journey got started. They eventually married and had two daughters, Sharon (Catron) Harold and Sandra Catron-Kramer.   Bettie and Jim celebrated their 58th Wedding anniversary before he passed.

Bettie was a homemaker, financial wizard, and loved crafts like painting, knitting and helping her daughters on crafting projects. She was always experimenting with new recipes and giving neighbors and friends sweet treats. She canned vegetables from the garden and kept a freezer full of veg and casseroles. Bettie loved doing puzzles, playing cards and board games with the children and her close friends and family.  She had a keen interest in and spent many hours discovering the family genealogy.

Sharon and her husband Perry Harold, gave Bettie two beautiful, intelligent and loving children, Christoper Harold and Jennifer (Harold) Demarest. Bettie lived and breathed for her grandchildren and tried to spend as much time as possible with them, despite the distance between Ohio and Florida.

Christopher and his lovely wife, Heather, of Atlanta, grew the family tree with Sadie Grace and Kelsie Alex who loved and enjoyed visiting with their Nana whenever they could.

Jennifer and her accomplished husband Dan grew their family in Lake County Florida with Ella and Zoey who also loved and visited Nana as often as possible after she moved to Florida.

Bettie has two sons-in-law, Peter and Perry, who provided her endless support, humor and yes, transportation, since Bettie never drove.  Bettie had her standing Friday hair appointment right up until the last weeks of life. She also had an "adopted" daughter (in spirit) that she loved dearly, Rebecca Fort. She always lit up when Rebecca was around. And she was very close to Maxines and Bay's sons Jeff and Phil Carpenter.

In additions to daughters/spouses, grandchildren/spouses and 4 great granddaughters, Bettie is also survived by 3 Sister-in-laws Joyce Catron, Shirley Catron and Deanie Catron and many nieces and nephews.

Later this year the family will have a graveside service in Ohio for Bettie to celebrate her deep and abiding faith and the amazing and long life she lived.

Bettie was a long-time member of the Church of God Worldwide Association and the Ohio Congregation devotedly stayed in touch with her even after she permanently moved to Florida.  The Florida congregation welcomed her when she was able to attend and we are so grateful for the prayers, love and support from both congregations.   We are equally grateful for the loving care that Bayview Center provided mom in her last years, as well as Vitas Hospice in the last weeks. In lieu of flowers, please send your thanks and donations to Vitas Lake -Sumter Mt Dora, 6909 Old Highway 441, Ste 105, Mt Dora, Fl 32757 or the Church of God, a Worldwide Association at PO Box 731480, Dallas, TX 75373-1480.

You left us beautiful memories
Your love is still our guide
And though we cannot see you
You are always by our side