Betty Smith, 61
May 28, 1950 — Jan. 5, 2012

Betty R. Smith, 61, of Queensway, Ellenton, Fla., and formerly of Niles, died at 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, following an extended illness.

She was born on May 28, 1950, in Dyersburg, Tenn., to Wesley and Marie (parm) Davison. The graduated from Buchanan High School and has lived in Michigan and Florida most of her life.

Betty attended the Portage Road General Baptist Church in Niles. She enjoyed playing bingo and always enjoyed volunteering at schools, this year at Niles Eastside Connection School, where her daughter is a teacher.

Betty’s family remembers her as always working hard at being the best mother and giving of herself to others.

On Sept. 25, 2004, in Niles, she married Jessie I. Smith, who survives. Also surviving are her children, Bonnie (and Bill) Prenkert and Bill (and Darlene) Hall, both of Niles; grandchildren, Travis Peterson, Kourtney Peterson, Noah Hall and Brenden Hall; step-grandchildren, Lindsay Prenkert, Zak Prenkert, Chris Prenkert, Kaci Lintz, Kiya Lintz and Chaz Turnbo; Betty’s mother, Marie (and Earl) Judy of Buchanan; Jessie’s sister, Kathy Springman of Ellenton, Fla.; a circle of friends, including Pam Smay of Florida; and Betty’s pet dog, Scruffy.

Betty was preceded in death by her father, Wesley Davison, who died in 2007.

A gathering of family and friends to share memories of Betty Smith will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Pastor Lonnie Rhodes of Portage Road General Baptist Church officiating. Contributions in memory of Betty may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.