Betty J Mounts

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Betty Jean Mounts, 97, of Crystal River, FL. Betty went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 13th at Crystal River Health and Rehabilitation Center (CRHR)

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She was born on November 29, 1928, in Princeton, Indiana. Betty was the eldest of 10 to the late James TheodoreChapman, Sr. and Golda Pickett Chapman.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Darwin Edgar Mounts on June 6, 2004, at the age of 80. They had been married for 57 years.

Betty “Chatty Moe” graduated from Princeton High School, Princeton, Indiana with the class of 1947.

She worked for 8 years at the Burger King on Dual Highway in Hagerstown, MD and the Burger King in Crystal River, FL for 15 years for a total of 23 years. She retired at the age of 74 on December 12, 2002. She had a standing joke with customers that when she retired she would get her gold watch. Burger King did present a watch with her service time inscribed on the back. Her previous employment was Ogden Foods Berlo Vending Division, Hagerstown, MD.

She was a member of the Crystal River Community Church at the time of her death and a former member of the Grace United Methodist Church, Grace Class, in Hagerstown, MD.

Betty is survived by four children; Donette E. Sines and husband Jeffrey of Hagerstown, MD, James M. Mounts and wife Rebecca of Inverness, FL., Kevin L. Mounts and wife Wanda of Falling Waters, WV., and Lauri D. Hokanson of Jacksonville, FL.; eight grandchildren, Christopher Sines, Jodi (Sines) Austin and husband Dave, Jennifer Mounts McBee, Veronica Mounts Clark and husband Jeff, Richard Mounts and wife Colleen, Jaclyn Fotta, Joey Compostella, and Kyle Hokanson; Six Great-Grandchildren, Austin Sines, Emily McBee and Brandon Holloway and wife Krystal; Marissa, Aiden and Kenley Clark; four great great-grandchildren, McKenna, Kenzley and Easton Sines, and Gam Holloway; sister, Gloria Bell of Laurens, IA; her special like daughters and caregiver friends; Karen Meehan and Sue Cox of Crystal River, FL and many other loving relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by two sisters; Agnes Coomer and Bonnie Lou Chapman; six brothers; Billy Dean Chapman, Sr., Jerry Don Chapman, James T. Chapman, Jr., John Earl Chapman, Samuel Lee Chapman and Bobby Joe Chapman; and a very special friend; Jack Whitehead of Princeton, IN.

She will always be remembered for her love of many Christmas Cactuses and crocheting. She crocheted many doilies and last names which were framed and given to many family members and friends. Most crocheted items were given as gifts from her. Her hands were still crocheting when she couldn’t do it any longer. In her early years she enjoyed collecting salt n pepper shakers, Betty Boop, owls and an early hobby was ten pen bowling. Later on, it was campfires with friends eating smores, shrimp and collard greens from Mr. Bunch’s Oysters Restaurant, her homemade vegetable soup and bingo. She loved to read books and newspapers front to back while sleeping in between the pages.

She had a wonderful gift of making friends. She loved life and made the most of each day. She always said “each new day was a blessing” to her. The light that mother left in our hearts will never be extinguished. She would want you to please hug and tell your loved ones how much they mean to you.

We wish to thank all of the staff, nurses, doctors and Hospice who provided her with excellent, tender loving care at CRHR.

A Visitation will be held at Macrini-Wilder Funeral Home on Wednesday May 20th at 10am and the Memorial Service will start at 11:15 A.M.. Burial will follow at Fountains Memorial Park at 12:00 Noon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty’s name to a favorite charity of your choice.