Betty Louise Sikes

She grew up in Knoxville, TN and graduated from Holston High School as part of the Class of 1962.

While earning her B.A. from the University of Tennessee with a major in Home Economics, she was part of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority.

Before long, Betty made her way to Tampa, FL where she shared her love of preparing wonderful meals by hosting a cooking show for Tampa Electric.

She moved to Hollywood, FL and met the love of her life, Leon R. Sikes Jr. when she interviewed for a job at his company. Instead of getting the job, they got married in 1979, welcomed their daughter, Julie, in 1982, and moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1983.

Betty volunteered for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and was actively involved in fundraising activities across the Fort Lauderdale area.

She enjoyed spending time at her summer home in Linville, NC near Grandfather Mountain, loved to cook for family and friends, host gatherings, cheer on her beloved Tennessee Vols and was a shrewd Bridge player throughout her life.

Betty loved her family dearly and was preceded in death by her husband, Leon; her parents LC and Eva; her sister, Sandra Lee Nighbert.

She is survived by her daughter, Julie O’Malley, and son-in-law, Patrick O’Malley; her beloved grandchildren, Grace and Leon O’Malley; 3 step-children Dr. David Sikes, Nancy Sikes-Kline, and Leon Sikes III; 7 more grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; her nephew, Randall Nighbert, and his wife, Lisa.

Visitation and wake services will be held on Friday, October 10 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home, 4061 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Graveside services will be held Saturday, October 11th at 11:00 a.m. at the Hillcrest Cemetery in West Palm Beach, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at cff.org.