Bettye Bean Weaver

WEAVER, BETTYE BEAN-died March 14, 2016 in Richmond, Virginia. She was born April 25, 1924, in Knoxville, Tennessee, the only child of Edith Grace Peoples and Leonard True Bean. Grace succumbed to tuberculosis at age 32 and 7-year-old Bettye was folded into the family of her father’s sister, Anna Mae and her husband, Elmer Oliver and their children, H. B., Eleanor, and Mary Lou, with whom she remained life-long friends. Bettye graduated from Young High School in 1942. A cheerleader and an enthusiastic participant in the school’s theatre and choral productions, she was the instigator of all things fun. In 1943, she married Warren W. “Barney” Weaver. Sgt. Weaver’s artillery unit concluded extensive training in California and Washington before being deployed to Europe, at which time Bettye, pregnant with their first child, flew home to Knoxville. Bettye’s Aunt Eva and husband, C. L. Keller engulfed the Weaver family with compassion and generosity. After the War, Bettye and Barney threw themselves into the work of their first home and the ministries of Island Home Baptist Church, where she taught teens, sang in the choir, and enjoyed the camaraderie of the Women’s Bible Class. Nothing pleased her more than to discover a piece of old discarded furniture and to restore it to its original lustre and usefulness. She loved square dancing, challenging craftwork of all kinds, the occasional luxury of a day trip to the Smokies, the swimming pool in Alcoa, and hunting treasures at Goodwill. In 2005 Bettye and Barney moved to Richmond to live near their children. She was predeceased by her husband Barney and grandson, Grayson. Bettye is survived by her daughter Lori and son-in-law Joseph Owen; son Myron and daughter-in-law Mimi; and three grandchildren, Reid Owen, Elliott Owen and his wife Tracy, all of Los Angeles, and Haley Farrar, of New Zealand. The family will receive friends at Island Home Baptist Church from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 2. A private burial service is planned. Memorial gifts may be made to Island Home Baptist Church, 2323 Island Home Avenue, Knoxville, 37920. Condolences may be offered at www.berryfuneralhome.com.