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Betty Jo Tuck Smith, 77

Betty Jo Tuck Smith was born on June 14, 1936 in Macon County, TN, one of two sisters, to the late Laura Agness Gregory Tuck and Raymond Rudolph Tuck. Betty departed this life peacefully in her sleep on Monday, June 17, 2013 at 7:20 p.m. surrounded by her family at the old home place in Sycamore Valley, age the age of 77 years and 3 days. Funeral services for Betty Jo Tuck Smith were conducted at the Anderson & Son Funeral Home in Lafayette at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 20th with Elder Dewayne Gregory officiating. Interment followed in the Will Gregory Cemetery.  Pallbearers were Tommy Scruggs, Bill Scruggs, Dan Birdwell, Harold Smith, Troy Day and John Smith. Betty was saved on October 10, 1946 at the age of 10 years old at the old Sycamore Valley School building. She later joined Sycamore Valley Missionary Baptist Church where she remained a member to her death. She was married on December 24, 1953 to Bobby Holliman Smith. Two daughters were born to this union: Vicky Ann on June 22, 1956 and Kathy Lee on April 6, 1958. Betty worked on the family farm her entire life. She worked at Imperial Reading and also as an aide at Janwynella Nursing Home for several years. Later in life, she sat with two elderly ladies, Mrs. Virginia Smith and Mrs. Clara Gregory, whom she loved dearly. Betty loved working in her garden, canning and freezing vegetables each summer. She loved cooking Sunday dinner each week for her family who all loved her cooking; especially the special treats at holidays. She was able to fix Easter dinner this year. She loved her flowers and plants and hummingbirds. She was a fine housekeeper and always kept everything neat and clean. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her only sibling, Mildred Ann Tuck Gregory. Along with her husband, Betty is survived by: daughter Vicky Ann Thomas and husband Jackie; daughter Kathy Lee Thompson and husband Mike; granddaughter, Michaela LeeAnn Thompson, all of the Russell Hill Community; brother-in-law, Douglas Gregory of the Coleytown Community; step granddaughter, Tabitha Thomas York and husband, Carl; step great grandchildren, Kayla, Mitchell and Carson York, all of Ashland City; nephew Dewayne Gregory and wife Tina; niece, Lisa “Sis” Gregory Smith and husband John, all of the Sycamore Valley Community; great nieces and nephew, Jessica Louise Gregory Russell and husband, Dustin, Jamie Marie Gregory, Leigh Ann Smith and Jonathon Gregory Smith; great-great nephews, Camden Wayne Russell, Cason Dale Russell, Baby Russell-to-be. Betty loved all her family and friends, but the greatest love and joy of her life was her only grandchild, Michaela LeeAnn Thompson, born on March 26, 1994, whom she called “Kalee”.  She cherished everything about caring for and nurturing Kalee. There will never be a greater LOVE than she showed for this child.  She was her LIFE!  We are sure that her last thought was that of Kalee!