Bettie Arthetta Carr Williams was born Dec. 22, 1928 on Jackson Street in Pensacola to Eula L. Sasnett Carr and Joseph Reynolds Carr. At a young age she traveled to many foreign countries with her mother and stepfather, Adie D Helms, giving her a lifelong love for travel and adventure.
At age 16 she met Benjamin F. Williams Jr. They were married just three weeks later, and for 68 years she has been his “Sugar Babe,” and he has been her “Cowboy.”
Their life together has been filled with music, dancing and travel. Retirement brought them back to their home along beautiful Perdido Bay in Lillian.
Bettie, a member of the DAR, was an avid family historian, doing genealogy work for others as well as for her family.
She retired as a supervisor from Monsanto when Ben transferred to Naval Air Systems Command, and they moved to Virginia.
Bettie loved her volunteer work in the Reagan White House, reading and responding to mail sent to President Reagan.
In their retirement years she and Ben were members of square dance clubs and enjoyed dancing and traveling with their square dancing friends.
To her children she is the giving mother who takes ownership of every need she encounters, giving many years of service to others and organizations.
To her grandchildren she is the grandmother who is full of fun, energy and adventure. No rollercoaster is too big or too scary to keep Grandma from being the first one on it, showing the children how to have fun.
Her presence will be deeply missed as she leads the way, as always, to this new adventure.
After an heroic battle by her attending doctors and nurses, Bettie left this mortal life behind on May 1, 2014 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, where her big, generous heart just gave out.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Eula L. Sasnett Helms of Lillian; her father, Joseph Reynolds Carr of Pensacola; and her stepfather, Adie D. Helms of Lillian.
Bettie is survived by her much beloved husband, Benjamin F. Williams Jr., also a Pensacola native who resides in Lillian; her son, Gary R. Williams (wife Carmen) of Perdido Key and her daughter, Cindy-Rae Williams Jones (husband Tim) of Lillian; six grandchildren, Benjamin Jones (Allison) of Texas; Jason Williams (Tracey) of New Zealand; Seth Jones (Desiree) of New Mexico; Hahni Jones of Brazil; Telipeti Fonua of Lillian and Shalice Jones Keppner (Brandon) of Colorado.
And precious to her are her great-grandchildren, Garrett, Kimball, Hyrum, Cameo, Jerrico, Ammon, McKaydee, Seighan, Kelsyn, TJ, Cass, Jorie, Thomas and Eden. She is also survived by her younger sister, Loleeta Carr Smith; and her younger brothers, Robert J. Carr, Bobby R. Carr, Daniel Carr, Joe Carr, Frank Carr and Bill Carr; and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held for Mrs. Williams on Thursday, May 8, 2014, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Pine Rest Funeral Home in Foley.
The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 2014 at Pine Rest Funeral Home in Foley, with interment to follow in Pine Rest Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Pine Rest Funeral Home, Foley.
