Betty Norris Butler Donahue

Betty J. Butler Norris Donahue, 88, passed away January 7, 2013 at her daughter’s home in Queen Creek, Arizona. Born December 21, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Lomis D. and Sara Elizabeth Kelly Butler of Greene County, Tennessee. She was a graduate of Greeneville High School.

After high school, Betty was employed by Clinton Engineering Works in Oak Ridge, Tennessee a part of the Manhattan Project, a research and development project that produced the first atomic bombs during World War II. She received a certificate from the Secretary of the War for her participation in “work essential to the production of the Atomic Bomb, thereby contributing to the successful conclusion of World War II” in August, 1945.

She married Joel McNeal Norris on November 18, 1944. The couple moved to Dayton, Ohio in 1950. Betty worked as a manager for Metropolitan Cleaners. She later joined Farnbarker Toy Company as their head bookkeeper.

After the death of her first husband, Joel, in 1964, she married Richard A. Donahue in 1967. They moved to Columbus, Ohio where she worked as a bookkeeper for Columbus Merchandise. She prided herself on her meticulous bookkeeping skills and was often praised by auditors for her accurate work.

Betty and Richard loved to dance and taught dancing while living in Columbus. Often the dance floor cleared to watch them as they gracefully glided across the floor. They enjoyed weekly dances and dinner with friends at the Maennerchor Club.

She was an avid golfer and enjoyed traveling. Betty and Dick retired to Bonita Springs, Florida and later to Sun City Center, Florida where they continued golfing, dancing and traveling.

Her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. She enjoyed spending as much time as possible with them.

She was pre-deceased by her husbands, Joel and Richard; a son, Gregory G Norris, and a granddaughter, Katie Young.

She is survived by sons Joel M. (Rosemary) Norris of Peachtree City, Georgia; Steve (Karen) Norris of Apollo Beach, Florida; and daughter Vivian (John) Tryniski of Queen Creek, Arizona.

Grandchildren surviving her include Leanne (Ed) Bowman, Amy Menke, Steffanie Schweitzer, William (Dorothy) Norris, Jacqueline (Jason) West, Lori Young, Alicia Norris and Gregory Eugene Norris.

She is also survived by 7 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned for July 13, 2013 at 10:30 AM at Lynnhurst Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee.