A Life Lived: Betty Lacy’s life revolved around family, friends

Betty Lacy was all about family and friends. She was the mother of two sons and three daughters and had several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed holidays and the family gatherings that came with them. In fact, Betty had an extended family of friends, which included former co-workers, church family, and almost everyone she came in contact with.

Betty died July 5 at the age of 90 at Ivy Hall Nursing Home, where she had been a resident for the past 10 months.

She was the widow of James P. Lacy, whom she married at the age of 16. Her daughter, Carol, noted that her mother had to have her grandmother sign for her to get married. “She and Daddy were best friends,” Carol said, noting that her father had been gone 33 years.

Betty had the first of her five children at the age of 18.

“Dad sang in several gospel groups, among them the Song Masters and the Victors Quartet. The Song Masters sang on Norton Arney’s TV show, and Mom always was there for their tapings for the show. They used to have all-day singings and we didn’t miss a one,” said Carol. “It was a family thing.

“Both Mom and Dad were very outgoing people, Mom especially. She enjoyed being with people. She seldom missed church, and after she became unable to attend church, she watched it online,” shared Carol.

Betty for several years was a member of the Red Hat Society. “It was a fun group, where they could act up and be silly, and no one cared,” said Carol, who with a sister was also a member of the group for a time.

Betty was a big Cyclone fan as well as a Jason Witten fan. “She watched everything he did. When he played for UT, she watched every game that was televised, and when he played for the Cowboys, she watched the games on TV. She has several of his autographs,” Carol shared.

She also noted that her mother attended most of the Elizabethton Cyclone games and after Betty became unable to attend the games, she watched the Tom Taylor shows.”

In her earlier years, Betty worked at Steinway in Johnson City and later at ITT, and her last job was as a teacher’s aide at West Side School. “That was her favorite job. She enjoyed the children,” said Carol.

“After Dad died, Mama attended a support group, and many of those ladies became her best friends. They went on bus trips together and had outings. One by one they have passed, and for Mom, it was sad to see them go,” said Carol.

There were not many things Betty didn’t like to do. She enjoyed eating out, being with family and church friends. She liked to cook, especially for family on holidays. “Holidays were big for her…and at Thanksgiving and Christmas, her dressing was so good,” said Carol.

“Holidays were a big deal to Mom, especially Christmas. It was an all-day deal to her. The kids and grandkids all came….and great-grandkids, too. Both Mom and Dad were the only children in their families, so there were no aunts and uncles or cousins,” Carol shared.

One of Betty’s favorite pastimes was gardening. “Iris were her favorite flower, and she had a yard full of every color. She even had some that came from her grandmother’s yard. After she went to the nursing home, I took pictures of the flowers and showed them to her,” Carol said.

In addition to Carol, Betty was mother to sons Randy and David and daughters, Barbara and Deniece.

Betty Lacy lived a long life, filled with people, places, events, and fun. Today, she is with Jesus, who was number one in her life, as well as those many friends and family members who preceded her in death. And, you can bet she is living it up, and just maybe, she is wearing a red hat.

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