ELIZABETH ANN (Betty) KINZER SMITH died July 11, 2023, after a long, loving, and Christian life.

She was the daughter of Morrison Bell and Sara Effie Lowe Kinzer born July 31, 1932. Her parents preceded her in death.

On June 10, 1951, Elizabeth married Bobby Jo Smith. Although not a formal business, Betty became the CEO of Smith, Inc, (her home and family) devoting her life to the roles and responsibilities of Wife, Mother, Sister, Grandmother, Aunt, Cousin, and Granddaughter. Betty often commented that she was in the middle of a five-generation family caring for her Grandmother, her Mother, her Daughters, and her Grandsons.

She established beautifully decorated homes for her family in Tennessee, throughout America, and in the world. Wherever her husband's work located them, Betty made a home. Her husband died on May 19, 2007.

She loved the companionship of cousins being an only child for many years. The first week Betty had a driver's license, she drove her pregnant Mother to St Joseph Hospital and later met her baby sister, Sara Sue.

Betty learned independence and to stand up for herself from her cousin, Maurice Roberts. He would keep their lunch and bus monies telling her it was his job because he was "the boy". After a couple of missed meals and a long walk with bus money spent foolishly, Betty took over the monies for their adventures. They took to their graves the true story of why Maurice shot Betty with a BB gun. She never forgot the incident and reminded him of it his lifetime.

Her cousin relationships were the epitome of lasting friendships beyond blood relations. Aunt Emma, the only female among the Kinzer brothers, gave Betty her female cousins, Laura, Anne, Amelia, and Charlene. Charlene and Betty would play with their dolls on the farm day after day after day. Laura and Betty remained cousins and friends, sharing their experiences as mothers, for nine decades.

One of her favorite childhood memories were the Christmas Stockings her maternal grandfather, John William Lowe, filled with huge raisins, oranges, and Brazil nuts that he had delivered by rail.

Betty created her first out-of-home-state-Tennessee home in Norfolk, VA when Bobby served in the US Navy. She was a die-hard Democrat for years and called her Daddy to ensure she'd be safe in Virginia with the first Republican President she experienced. He assured Betty that she would be safe. Unfortunately, he could not foresee that US Navy duties would leave Betty delivering her first child, Rebecca Marie (Becky) alone. Betty and daughter were united with Bobby ten days after Becky's birth.

Betty was the consummate hostess and a tenacious housekeeper. She was the "go to person" for bridal teas and dinner parties. Her talent for furniture refinishing, sewing, and creative flower arranging made second hand and thrift stores finds jewels in their temporary homes. Betty, however, drew a line in the sand insisting that Bobby purchase a new mattress for their home no matter how short-term their stay. Wherever they traveled, Betty always returned home to Shelby County, TN.

As a seamstress, she coordinated holiday clothing for her family. Each of the four Smiths wore a coordinating color or pattern on their holiday clothing. Her creations were just enough to elicit an awe from others without being overly stated.

A lifelong United Methodist, Betty taught third grade Sunday School for over 25 years. She participated in the Garden Club, Women's Society, and Mother's Circle for over 40 years.

Betty made her across the pond visit to England with her Sister, Sara. There she reunited with her pen pal from fourth grade, Marian Lumb. They had corresponded for over decades via postal mail.

Known for not enjoying air travel, Betty was asked how she completed air travels to places such as Egypt where Bobby worked. She remarked that she closed her eyes once on the plane and pretended it was a Greyhound Bus ride from Memphis to somewhere.

Betty remained in the family Lakeland, TN home until she declared no more winters alone in Lakeland. She moved and enjoyed ten years of independent living at Jackson Meadow in Jackson, TN where she was located close to her daughter and sister. She enjoyed the companionship of fellow bridge players and especially enjoyed dressing for dinner at Jackson Meadow. In typical Southern Lady style, Betty was the best dressed and no matter how

much she wanted a second helping of food, she never asked. As a true Southern hostess, she apologized to her cousin, Vicky Scherberger as she looked for a glass, for not bringing her crystal goblets to Jackson Meadow.

Betty remained grateful to her cousins, Laura Crews and Anne Boyd for their lifelong friendship and support especially during Bobby's illness.

Betty is survived by daughter, Rebecca Marie Smith Truett, husband Winston of Jackson, TN, and sister, Sara Sue Kinzer Hayes, husband David, of Dyersburg, TN.

Her surviving grandsons are James Truett, MD of Jackson, TN, William Truett of Bryson City, NC, Robert Boyd and wife, Leah, of Broken Arrow, OK, and Patrick Boyd of Austin, TX

Affectionately called BeBe by her grandchildren and great children, she is survived by great grandsons Phillip, Joseph, and Daniel Truett of Maryville, TN, and great grandchildren Archer, Lydia, Joel, and Sydney Boyd of Broken Arrow, OK.

Also surviving are her nephew and wife, David and Anna Hayes with adult children Joanna and David Nickelson of Lakeville, MN, and her niece, Amy Hayes Campbell, and husband, Brad, of Dyersburg, TN.

Betty was preceded in death by their daughter Kathryn Jo Smith Boyd on 23 May 2007, and son-in-law, Paul Boyd (August 2018).

High Point Funeral Home (3788 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN 38122, 901 454 5795) handles the arrangements. The funeral will be on Monday, 17 July, with visitation before at 12:30pm at the Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Betty's Father purchased the burial arrangements in 1935.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Lakeshore Camp (https://lakeshorecamp.org/ 731 584 6102) and / or to Samaritan's Purse (https://www.samaritanspurse.org/ 828.262.1980).