Betty Jo (Ketner) Morgan

Betty Jo “BJ” (Ketner) Morgan died on July 15, 2018 under the excellent care of the loving staff at The Courtyard in Dayton, TN.

BJ was born on October 9, 1924 at Ketner’s Mill in Sequatchie Valley, TN to Eugene M. Ketner and Clara B. (Hutton) Ketner. She lived her entire life in Tennessee and spent many of her formative years exploring the McDonald Farm in Sale Creek. She later attended the University of Chattanooga before transferring to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where she majored in Home Economics. In March 1947, she married Edward “Edd” Lewis Morgan in Dayton. BJ owned the Rhea County Credit Bureau and also worked with Edd at the Morgan Insurance Agency.

BJ was the epitome of a gracious hostess and was always ready to entertain. She was funny and kind and always made room for supper guests, who raved over her chocolate strips and looked forward with intense delight as the smell of her famous sour cream pound cake wafted in from the kitchen. Her favorite way to show her love was through food and she graciously shared her pound cake recipe, which many found impossible to reproduce without BJ’s love in the mix.

It is impossible to confine such infinite and eternal qualities as the beauty, joy, warmth, and fun-loving spirit that BJ embodied to a sheet of paper. She was extraordinary and stole hearts with her wit, grace and joy. She showed courage, empathy and love and opened her arms, her home and her heart to all.

BJ was predeceased by her husband, Edd; her son, Edward (Eddie) Ketner Morgan and her beloved dog, Oscar.

She is survived by her daughter Marcia Morgan Hart (Stan) of Birmingham, Alabama; four grandchildren, Christal Caraway, Morgan Hart( Dave Kampe), Claire Hart (Matt Gorum), and Luke Morgan; four great grandchildren, Jared, Chloe, Grayson and Merrill and one great-great grandchild, Henry. She is also mourned by many close friends including Rhonda Miller Graham, Sharon Reed Suttles and Holly Cross.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.

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