Betty Mae Smith (Hickman), 95 passed away peacefully on December 1, 2019
Betty was born in Dayton, TN to parents, Raleigh and Ella Mae Hickman (Poteet) on May 7, 1924. Betty graduated from Rhea Central High School and moved to Chattanooga after graduation to work at Ft. Oglethorpe where she met her future husband. They were married on July 5, 1946 and she began a life as an Air Force wife.
Betty enjoyed being a homemaker and mother. She and her husband, Rodney traveled from California, Montana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina and back home to Dayton where they retired from the service in 1964. Betty began working at Kayser Roth Hosiery Co. in the late 60’s in the office and continued her employment when the Rolane Factory Store Outlet opened under her guidance. She managed the store for many years and retired from the company in the early 90’s. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dayton.
She is preceded in death by her husband, retired Lt. Col. Rodney E. Smith; parents, Raleigh and Ella Mae Hickman; brothers, James and Johnny Ray Hickman; sister, Ellen Hickman and great-grandson, Jackson Ace Fitzgerald.
She is survived by her daughters, ViElla (Arnold) Fitzgerald and Susan Jones; grandchildren, Jason (Cheryl) and Jeremy (Sarah) Fitzgerald both of Dayton; Amanda (Keven) Clark, Sarah (Cole) Thurman and Meaghan (Jay) Maddux all of Spring City; great grandchildren, Andersyn, Tenley, and Elliot Thurman, Sawyer Maddux, Alex (Keefe) McIntosh of Goldsboro, NC, Lainey Fitzgerald, Jayden and Brynlee Fitzgerald and Michelle (David) Rogers of Washington state.
Special thanks to caretakers and friends Wilma White, Freda Harris, Evelyn Shumate and Linda Janow.
Service will be Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 11:00am in the sanctuary of First Methodist Church with Rev. Ken Pierce and Rev. Clyde Fitzgerald officiating.
Family will receive friends Tuesday, December 3, 2019 from 6:00-8:00pm at Coulter Garrison Funeral Home.
Interment will be at Pleasant View Cemetery.
Pallbearers are grandsons, Jason and Jeremy Fitzgerald, Cole Thurman, Jay Maddux and Keven Clark and nephew Jeff Hickman.
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