Patsy Dawson Bettis

Patsy Jane (Dawson) Bettis, age 79, died in her home on January 3, 2020. She was surrounded by her family as she ended her two-year battle with COPD and lymphoma and slipped into the arms of Jesus peacefully and painlessly. Patsy was born on December 23, 1940, in her family home in Dandridge as the fourth of five sisters. She grew up in the Talbott-Kansas community and attended the grammar school there. She and her sisters often sang together, where Pat displayed her beautiful alto singing voice. A graduate of Maury High School in 1958, Patsy then attended Carson-Newman College where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics and Education. She met her husband, Tommy Bettis, in college and they married in 1962. Patsy lived and taught school in St. Petersburg, Florida; and both Selma and Birmingham, Alabama. However, she was most known and loved locally for being a fifth grade teacher at Dandridge Elementary School, where she taught hundreds of students, including her own, during her sixteen-year career there. Patsy enjoyed reading, cooking, sewing, traveling with her husband, and playing cards each weekend with their friends. After the death of her husband Tommy in 2001, she spent her last eighteen years at home spending time with her family and watching with pride as her grandchildren grew up. Her sharp wit and dry sense of humor have been the topics of many stories shared about her in the past few days. Additionally, Patsy was selfless and generous, always willing to give of her time, attention, and resources to help those in need. She was a wonderful confidante and gave wise counsel regularly. She loved the Lord and was a member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church. Patsy is preceded in death by her parents, Roy L. Dawson and Ruby (Hughes) Dawson, and her husband Tommy Bettis. She is survived by her four sisters: Joann Bruce, Ella Dean Shively, Betty Sue Bales, and Barbara Glenn; her children, Jeff Bettis and Kelli Bettis Shockey; daughter-in-law, Linda Farnan Bettis; son-in-law, Sean Shockey; and her four grandchildren: Kay Amelia Bettis, Brayden Shockey, Tanner Shockey, and Aubrie Shockey, as well as many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Amedisys Hospice Foundation or Shady Grove United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 5, 2020, 7:00pm with Rev. Jason McIntosh officiating. Interment graveside services will be held Monday, 2:00pm at West View Cemetery, Jefferson City. Family will receive friends Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00pm prior to services at Farrar Funeral Home, Dandridge.