Betty Reeves Benfield

She was born in Boone, NC to the late Myra Josephine Marion and Thomas Franklin Lovill. She lived through the depression in this mountain town along with her older brother, Thomas Edward Lovill (deceased 1999). Some of her fondest memories were of hiking with her dog on Howard's Knob, a mountain that overlooks the town.

While visiting relatives in the town of Carthage, NC she met her future husband (Edward Benfield of High Falls, NC - deceased 2000) at a dance. After a short courtship, they married in 1941. Her husband was accepted into Military Flight School for Pilot training, she took her first train trip up to Oswego, NY to join him at school. In 1942 they moved to California while he was in the service. During this time Betty lived with a family on a date farm in Bellflower and worked briefly as a "Rosie the Riveter” at McDonald Douglas Aircraft.

After the war years, her husband started his career in the insurance business and they settled in the Greensboro, NC area. Their first child was born during this time. They later lived in Staunton, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia. Their second child was born in Richmond where they started the tradition of going to the Outer Banks for vacation every summer, a tradition that lasted for over 20 years.

In the mid 1950’s the family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. After a difficult transition from living in the south to moving to the Midwest she adjusted and resided in Indianapolis for nearly 2 decades. Betty was able to be a full-time homemaker and was actively involved in her children’s school activities, memorably the Junior Vaudeville at Shortridge High School and pageants at Orchard Country Day School. The family loved exploring for dining experiences throughout the city with the Key West Shrimp House and Chez Jean among their favorites. During this era the family often visited new and exciting places while flying with Edward in his plane. Betty loved these travel adventures - even the misadventures.

In the early 1970’s she returned to the North Carolina mountains residing in Blowing Rock and later in her hometown of Boone. She attended Appalachian State University acquiring a degree and worked throughout the state as a school psychologist. She later operated a real estate brokerage in Blowing Rock. During this era, she spent many happy days roaming the woods with her dog and well-worn field guide identifying wildflowers and mushrooms.

After retirement, she spent a short period in Vermont playing and singing lullabies to her grandbabies but headed back south to Brunswick County, NC to be near the ocean. She lived for many years in Shallotte Point and spent her days collecting sea glass and shells at Ocean Isle Beach. She was a prolific artist and created many pieces with watercolors and dried and pressed wildflowers, selling them at craft fairs throughout the area.

Her last years were spent as a resident of Autumn Care of Shallotte where she spent much of her time drawing and sharing her artwork with friends and family.

She is survived by two daughters, Betty Jolee Gollan of Chapel Hill, NC, and Robin Eatmon (son-in-law Donald) of Mount Holly, VT, and will be greatly missed by two granddaughters, Summers and Alexandra, and two great-granddaughters, Lillian and Cecily, all living in Vermont, nephew, James Lovill of California and great nephew Sky, of New Zealand.

Special thanks to the caring staff at Autumn Care, Lower Cape Fear Lifecare, and to Cereta Balla and family who were there for her through good times and bad, the family will be forever grateful.

Throughout her life, Betty did her best to create a life of beauty, wherever she lived. She was an artistic naturalist, having a respectful curiosity about and warm regard for "all creatures great and small"-- exemplified in her exquisite drawings and watercolors. From taking long walks on the beach to hiking in the mountains, her love of nature was imparted to all who knew her.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.shallottefunerals.com

White Funeral and Cremation Service, Shallotte, North Carolina.