Bettye Currier Gocio

Bettye Currier Gocio, 96, of Bentonville, Arkansas, died April 19, 2023, at the Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville. She was born on September 7, 1926, in Booneville, Arkansas, to Coleman and Ona Currier. Her family moved to Rogers when Bettye was in the third grade. While growing up in Rogers, she enjoyed Girl Scouts, her school art class and being a majorette. She graduated from Rogers High School in 1944 and attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. After one year, she returned to Northwest Arkansas to major in Home Economics and Child Development at the University of Arkansas. While there, she became a member of the Honorary Home Economics Sorority and Chi Omega Fraternity.

Bettye met Charles Gocio at a Bella Vista dance, which began a relationship that led to a proposal on Mount Sequoyah in the spring of 1946 and marriage on September 1 of that same year. Charles and Bettye lived in Fayetteville while Charles attended law school. They moved to Bentonville in January 1949 so Charles could open a private law practice. Bettye and Charles joined First United Methodist Church, where they both taught Sunday school. Bettye participated in Church Circle and served as Circle Chairman with the United Methodist Women’s Organization. While her children were young, Bettye helped with Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, and she served as president of the PTA. In her later years, she took part in the garden club and was a member, officer and president of PEO Chapter V. Throughout her long life, Bettye enjoyed playing bridge, reading, gardening, needlework and the natural world of birds and wildflowers. She enjoyed and was particularly talented in many art forms, such as drawing, watercolor painting and china painting. She passed along this love and talent to her daughter.

Bettye was a loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother, cherishing her family in many ways. She was very close to her mother, talking to her at least once a day. As she cared for her husband and children, she prided herself in being an excellent cook and homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her parents Coleman and Ona Currier, husband Charles Gocio and infant son James Gocio. She is survived by three children: John Gocio (and Susan) of Little Rock, Allan Gocio (and Danette) of Mountain Home, and Missy Gocio (and John Ray) of Fayetteville; nephew Charles Rigsby of Arkadelphia and niece Barbara Frank of Front Royale, Virginia; grandchildren and great grandchildren: Charlie Gocio (and Dayton and son James) of Fayetteville, Laura Gocio of Little Rock, Coleman Gocio of Hot Springs, Daniel Harris (and Amanda Bittinger) of Bentonville, Kelsey Gocio (and Drew Irwin) of Hot Springs, Suzanne Harris (and Jody Hughes) of Fayetteville, Rachel Mueller (and Chris and sons Hunter and Hudson) of Lowell, Drew Hutchison (and Melanie and son Trace) of Conway, Richard Alexander (and Jennifer and children Lainy Bailey (Adam) and Westin Coleman) of Benton, Derek Alexander (and Heather and children Kaid and Zack Vaughn) of Glenwood, and Amanda Burger (and Michael and children Alee, Beckett, Banks and Brooks) of Clayton, North Carolina.

Over the last 12 years, Bettye has had many wonderful caregivers that she referred to as “the girls.” Her family will always be so thankful to them for enabling her to stay in her home for so many years. Special thanks go to those who have been with her the longest, Dee, Lanita, Twania and Barbara.

A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at Callison-Lough Funeral Home, Bentonville. The Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, at First United Methodist Church, Bentonville. A private burial will take place in Bentonville Cemetery.

Bettye volunteered at the women’s and children’s shelters, because she had a strong conviction to help those who suffered from domestic violence. Memorials are suggested to the NWA Women’s Shelter- Bettye Gocio Memorial, PO Box 1059, Rogers, AR 72757 or NwaWS.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CallisonLoughFH.com for the Gocio family.