Betty Jean Kuhn Addison

A resident of Baton Rouge, Betty died at the Butterfly Wing of Hospice of Baton Rouge on Friday, July 1, 2011, following a lengthy illness. A native of Beaumont, Texas, she was born June 6, 1926. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Tuesday, July 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation at First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, July 6, from 10 a.m. until a memorial service at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Chris Andrews officiating. Interment in Greenoaks Memorial Park. A specialist in music education, Betty earned her bachelor's degree in 1947 from Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, and her master's degree in 1966 from LSU. She held professional memberships in Delta Kappa Gamma and Alpha Delta Kappa and served as adjudicator for the Louisiana Music Educators Association. She served as supervisor of guidance with the East Baton Rouge Parish school system and as a music educator in Louisiana and Texas. During her tenure in guidance, she was selected for the 1978 consortium team to facilitate desegregation in the East Baton Rouge Parish schools. The elementary program received national recognition under her leadership as guidance supervisor. A gifted music educator and musician, Betty led choirs in Many, Tallulah, Baton Rouge and Beaumont, achieving honors. She was co-director of the Melody Maids and founder of the Melody Men and Miniature Maids of Beaumont, which entertained U.S. armed forces all over the world during and after World War II. Betty was music chairman of the curriculum-writing team for Senior High American Humanities Studies in East Baton Rouge Parish. She served as national representative for the Music Division of Prentice Hall Publishing Co. Betty also developed and coordinated the Friends of the Centroplex Performing Arts Scholarships for Baton Rouge high school seniors. Betty helped found the Platinum Sound Orchestra, a Big Band sponsored by the East Baton Rouge Parish Council on Aging, playing piano and bass fiddle. Survived by her son, George Neilan Addison Jr. and wife Terri, of Murphy, Texas; brother, Donald Clarke Kuhn and his wife, Helen, of Beaumont; grandchildren, Carrie Addison Bycott and husband Brian, of Wylie, Texas, and Vaughn Addison and wife Kasey, of Frisco, Texas; great-grandchildren, Carson Bycott, Brooklynn Bycott, Ashleigh Bycott, Cameron Addison and Garret Addison; nieces, Patsy Poor McPhail, Disa Kuhn Albanese and husband Joey, Traci Kuhn Lowe, Marion Thomas Weaver and husband Kenny, Madalyn Thomas Sullins and husband Pat, and Erica Greene; nephew, Lewis Thomas; great nieces and great-nephews; and lifelong friends, Anita Hill Doyle, Gayle Hearne and Judy Hicks. Preceding her in death were her parents, Theresa Butler Kuhn and Baxter Lewis Kuhn; sister, Doris Kuhn Walton; and lifelong friend, Marie Holley Mobley, who was of Mineral, Va. Special thanks for the care provided by Lakeview Home Care and Drs. Gerald Miletello and Robert Krupkin. Please consider First United Methodist Church, 930 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 or The Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 as remembrances.