Betty Lou Bradsher

Betty Lou Weaver Bradsher, 85, of Jonesboro passed peacefully from this life on Friday, May 14, 2021, at NEA Hospital surrounded by her family.  She was born January 16, 1936, to Jessie Lurena and Roy Chleo Weaver in Kansas City, Kansas.  Betty graduated from Bay High School and attended Harding College and Arkansas State University.  She married Charles Arthur Bradsher of Trumann, AR and was a Navy wife until Charles retired in 1973.  She was a member of the Stoneridge Church of Christ.

Betty valued hard work, knowledge, and education. She had a home-based business designing and crafting wooden toys. She studied at college to be a PE teacher, and she always corrected her kids’ and grandkids’ grammar. She even stayed up working late nights until she scored over 1,000,000 points on Mrs. Pacman. Her grandchildren were never able to beat her high score.

Betty was a quiet leader and a dedicated servant. She served her community as a Girl Scout Leader for 10 years, she served the Church as a Bible class teacher, and she served her family as the best mother and wife in the world. She opened her home to countless others when they needed refuge, she took food to people who were in need, and she rescued and loved many cats. She set a beautiful table, made the best peach cobbler, and grew the most fragrant roses.

Betty was adventurous. Over the course of her lifetime, she travelled to every state in America, including Alaska and Hawaii. She and Charles often went camping, and even took their three oldest grandchildren on an eight week RV trip to Alaska. She collected recipes from friends she met during her travels, and she combined them to make a cookbook. Charles and Betty prioritized God and the Church when they planned their travels, and they made friends at churches across the country. Wherever they went, they were always at church on Sunday. Even when they attended church in Nassau, Bahamas, they saw familiar faces from their travels.

Survivors include her loving husband of 63 years, Charles Bradsher; daughters, Gaylene Hoover of Massachusetts, Karleen Sheets of Jonesboro, and Arleen (Richard) Smith of Harrisburg; son, Alex Bradsher of Jonesboro; grandchildren Leanne Hoover Morrison, Chase (Nichole) Smith, Angus (Kristina) Hoover, Logan (Jacob) Sheets Stewart, Nathan Smith, Roman Smith; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Kathy (Dick) Blackford of Jonesboro; brothers, Walton (Margaret) Weaver of Longview, TX; Dalton (Joann) Weaver Wright City, MO; numerous nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends.  She is preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 20, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 pm followed by a memorial service at 2:00 pm at Emerson Memorial Chapel in Jonesboro, AR.  Burial will be at Jonesboro Memorial Park.  Pallbearers will be Maurice Watson, Chase Smith, Angus Hoover, Nathan Smith, Roman Smith, and Justin Watson.