Betty Jean Burgess Smathers

WAYNESVILLE-Betty Jean Smathers, 82, of Waynesville, went home to be with her Lord on Sunday, August 31, 2014, at 8:15 PM. She passed peacefully at home in her sleep surrounded by her family. Betty Jean was born March 1, 1932, to the late Herman and Agnes Burgess. She married Samuel Perry Smathers and had three beautiful children, the late Tom Smathers of Cashiers and his wife Judy; their children, Tommy and Stephanie; Patricia Carswell of Marion and her husband Mike; their children, Michael and Chris Bryson and Candy Jackson (Nathan); and Kathy Weatherman and her husband Jim of Waynesville; their children, the late Sara and Jason Poland, Chuck Weatherman (Jessica), Jennifer McMahan, and Sammi Davis (Mike). She adored her great-grandchildren, Maverick and Cater, Haeli and Rhiley, Mason and Colton, James, Jeffery, Ashley, and Jamie, and Jordan and Nate. She also loved her many nieces and nephews and their children. Betty Jean was a lifelong member of Pleasant Balsam Baptist Church and loved her church family. She retired from Dayco in 1974. Her passion was her family and she took pride in caring for them. Betty Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, and her brother Raymond Burgess. In addition to those above she is survived by her sister Susie Young (Ronnie) of Greensboro and a large extended family. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, September 3, in the chapel of Garrett Funerals and Cremations with the Reverend Bobby Downs officiating. Burial will follow at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be Tommy Smathers, Michael and Chris Bryson, Michael Davis, Ronald Young, and Tim McCracken. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The family would like to express our sincere appreciation to Jason and Trina and the staff of Medwest Lifepath hospice in Sylva for the extraordinary care she received. We would ask that in lieu of flowers a donation to Medwest Lifepath Hospice at 68 Hospital Road, Sylva, NC 28779 be made in her memory. Garrett Funerals and Cremations is caring for the Smathers family. www.garrettfuneralsandcremations.com