Mrs. Betty Fielder Smart
Mrs. Betty June Welch Fielder Smart, age 88 of Gurdon, Arkansas passed away from this earth on January 2, 2017. She is preceded in death by her parents, D.O. and Rillis Welch, a son Dexter Aaron Fielder, her husband of 34 years Fred R. Fielder and her second husband of 20 years, Joe Smart.
Betty is survived by her daughter; Hollee Fielder of Gurdon, Arkansas, two step daughters; Cathy Chunn, husband, Robert of Okolona, Arkansas and Cindy Wognor of Seattle, WA. She will be remembered lovingly by her niece Betty Lynn DiMarco of New Orleans, LA, niece Jeanette Pratt, husband, Jamie of Camden, Carol Albino of Palm Harbor, FL, nephew; Jim Robinson of Ruston, LA, and niece Judith Courtney of Cabot, AR. She had seven great nieces and nephews, and five great, great nieces and nephews.
Betty was born and raised in Pine Bluff, AR and graduated from Henderson State Teacher’s College in 1950. After graduating from Henderson, Betty began teaching in Gurdon as the home economics teacher. Betty met and married Freddie on February 21, 1953. The couple made their home in Gurdon. She taught in the Gurdon Public Schools for 13 years and retired in 1963. Betty had Fielder’s Nursery School in Gurdon after her time in public schools, where she taught many, many 3 and 4-year old’s between 1976 and 1994. Her students remember her as “Miss Betty”. She was supremely kind, larger than life and responsible for the future success of her young students.
Betty and Joe enjoyed dancing and were regulars at the Thursday, night dances in Arkadelphia Senior Adult Center and anywhere else that might have a live band. She was an active member of the Gurdon First United Methodist Church, where she served on the pastor parish relations committee, United Methodist Women, and a delegate to the Arkansas State Methodist’s Convention. She served her community in many ways with her incredible abilities to cook, and decorate or where ever she was needed. She was active in the Gurdon Senior Adult Center and a lifelong Democrat.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a memorial in Betty’s name to the Billy Wells GHS Scholarship Fund % First State Bank 100 East Main Street in Gurdon, or the First United Methodist Church 2nd and East Walnut Gurdon, AR 71743.
A visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Gurdon on January 4, 2017 at 1:00pm followed by a Celebration Service of her beautiful life at 2:00pm, with Rev. Travis Langley officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hedge Cemetery. Arrangements are by BRAZZL/Cornish The Funeral Home of Prescott, Eddie BRAZZEL, Director. Online guestbook:www.brazzelfunerahomes.com