Betty Lou Bass Townsend

Betty Lou Bass Townsend, 86, went home to be with her Lord and husband of 44 years, Jack, on Monday, June 23, 2014, in Newton. Betty fought a courageous battle with Alzheimer's. Her memories may have failed her, but her faith and belief in prayer remained strong throughout her fight.

Betty had a passion for cooking, made one of the best peanut butter cupcakes and egg custard pies you could have ever eaten. Betty retired from Carolina Mills in 1990, after a lifetime of working in the textile industry. Betty was a member of Mt. View United Methodist Church and a member of the Ladies' Sunday school class. Friday nights were always reserved for her grandchildren. Known as "Mawmaw," they had fun Friday nights of eating tacos, playing Bingo and doing old fashioned things. Betty was blessed with seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren and they will have a lifetime of beautiful memories of Mawmaw.

Betty was born March 24, 1928, to the late Oscar L. Bass and Queen Ollie White Bass of Mecklenburg County. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Townsend; brothers, David Bass and Raymond Bass; sisters, Viola Ferguson, Ethel Lida, Pearl Brookes and Nellie Crump; and son-in-law, William (Speedy) Edmondson.

Survivors include her brother, Olin Bass; children, Doris Edmondson, Jack Townsend Jr. and wife, Juanita and Vonda Cantor and husband, Randy; grandchildren, Jeffery Edmondson, Brian Edmondson, Tessa Townsend, Tara Walters, Tonia Townsend, Ricky Cantor and Angela Burch; and great-grandchildren, Angalique Edmondson, Jeani Edmondson, Brandon Edmondson, Casey Edmondson, Haylie Edmondson, Stephen Young, Blake Young, Shane Young, Mikah Cantor, Jersey Cantor, Karizma Cantor, Paizlee Cantor, Maddison Aiken and Tyler Aiken.

A Service of Remembrance will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 25, at Mt. View United Methodist Church. The Rev. Rich Irwin will officiate. Burial will follow at Conover City Cemetery. The family will receive friends this evening (Tuesday, June 24), from 6 to 8 p.m., at Mt. View United Methodist Church.

Pallbearers will be Jeff and Brian Edmondson, Keith Watkins, Shane Walters, Joshua Burch and Donnie Cook; and honorary pallbearers will be Brandon Edmondson and Casey Edmondson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mt. View United Methodist Church, 1248 Balls Creek Rd., Claremont, NC 28610