1930
Bettye
2020
Bettye McKinnon
November 14, 1930 — November 6, 2020
Bettye Levoyce Dortch McKinnon, age 89, of Erin, Tennessee passed away peacefully at her home on November 6, 2020. She was born on November 14, 1930 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Samuel Bliss Dortch and Nelle Reeves Dortch. She was raised along with her sister and twin brothers in the small farming community of Fisk, Missouri by her Mom and step father Leon Gray (Poppa). She moved to Erin in 1945 and graduated from Houston County High School in 1948.
In 1947 she met and fell in love with Bobby McKinnon, a young man who was born and raised in Erin. He had just returned home from his service in the US Navy during WWW II when they met. They were married on March 13, 1949 and were married for 68 years until his death in 2017.
Her first child was born in 1953 and through the years until 1968, she gave birth to 7 children. She is a Grandmother to 12, a great Grandmother to 12 and a great great Grandmother to 3.
Through the years, when her children were in school, she was involved in volunteer work with her children's’ school, PTA, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and her church. After her youngest children were older, she worked outside the home predominately in accounting.
During her life she lived in Paris, TN, Montgomery, AL, Nashville, Clarksville, TN, Little Rock AR, Meridian, MS and come full circle back to Erin. She and Bob moved back to Erin in 1990 into the house where Bob grew up on Main Street. She was then employed by Erin Bank and Trust Co. Even before her retirement she served in many volunteer roles in Erin. Up until her death, she was still serving as the treasurer of Erin United Methodist Church. She has held this role for 28 plus years. She has also served on the finance and the endowment committees and on the administrative council.
She was a 42 year breast cancer survivor and served as president of the Houston County Chapter of the American Cancer Society. She worked tirelessly for Relay for Life and served as a speaker. She also volunteered with Reach For Recovery as a mentor to women who were suffering from breast cancer.
She served as the treasurer and board member of the Friends of the Library, the Houston County Historical Society and Erin Oak Hill Cemetery. She was past vice president, secretary and board member of the Houston County Chamber of Commerce.
She was a board member of the Erin Community Theater, Houston County Art Council and the Highland Rim Economic Development. She was secretary and treasurer for years for the Shamrock Club.
She was a board member of the Mid Cumberland Community Service Agency board, where she obtained a $50,000. Grant for the forming of the Houston County Youth Center. She was a member of the Houston County Lions Club and assisted the American Legion with their record keeping of the veterans graves in Houston County cemeteries.
She served on the committee for the Tennessee State Three Star Re-certification program for the city of Erin.
She worked a food drive following a mail carrier’s route for one day in Houston County collecting a record of over 900 pounds of food for the Bethesda Mission.
She has chaired committees for the Houston County High School Academic Banquet, the Irish Banquet, Business and Industry Luncheon, Chamber of Commerce membership banquets, Lord High Mayor’s breakfast and was currently working on getting donations from individuals and business for a country ham give away at the Christmas Kick off for the Chamber of Commerce. She, alone, had collected enough money to purchase 65 country hams to give away.
She was very active in Leadership Houston County, graduating in 2012 and serving as a facilitator for the retreats, graduation and on the advisory board. She received many awards of special appreciation from Leadership Houston County for her dedication and service.
In 2000 she received her highest honor when she was elected “Lord High Mayor” for the Erin Irish Celebration. This is the highest honor a person can receive for civic service to Erin and Houston County.
In 2012 she was named volunteer of the year by the Chamber of Commerce. She received “The Pride of Erin” perpetual cup.
She was a member of the FCE--Family & Community Education club. She always looked forward to lunch and meeting with her friends and outings with them. She was always proud to host them at her house.
In 2006 she was honored to be asked to write and read a poem about the history of the city of Erin. This started a love of writing poetry. Unofficially, she was the poet laureate of Houston County. She wrote poems for and about people for many different occasions, some ending their term as president of the Chamber, retirements, welcoming new preachers, birthdays or high school reunions. She loved and called it a blessing and honor to be able to write and read them to the people she had written about. Her last poem was titled “The Birth of Houston County for the 150 year celebration of Houston County just 1 week ago.
She loved to travel, go fishing and writing poetry. For her 80th and 83rd birthday her dream of rafting the Hiwassee River with her family came true. Every morning she worked the crossword puzzle in the newspaper. She had a very sharp mind and a quick wit. She never met a stranger, she could strike up a conversation with a wrong telephone number. She loved to be around people and to help in anyway she could.
Above all her accolades, memberships and involvements, she deeply loved her family. They were always number one and she loved to be with her family and was very proud of everyone of her “kids”. She lived her life with a loving and generous heart.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 68 years Robert B. (Bobby) McKinnon, 2 day old son Robert Thomas McKinnon and 49 year old daughter Elizabeth “Betsy” Wells and brother Jim Dortch.
She is survived by her children Melinda (Pete) Wiens, Richard (Kathy) McKinnon, Leigh Ann Marshall, Janie (Dixon) McKinnon and Rob McKinnon and “sons by other Mothers” Gary Baker and Gary Chance, her brother Don (Loraine) Dortch and sister Kittye (Bobby) Way.
Honorary Pall bearers are Eric Wiens, Carter Dixon, Richard McKinnon, Rob McKinnon, Tyler Marshall, Jake Wiens, Ronnie Bratschi, Mitchell Smithy and Chad Smith.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 11, 2020 from 2 till 8 pm at Nave Funeral Home in Erin, Tennessee and 9 till 11 am on Thursday November 12, 2020 at Erin United Methodist Church. The service will begin at 11:00 with graveside following at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Due to restrictions from Covid 19, temperatures will be taken and masks will be required.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Erin United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 309, Erin, TN 37061 or Bethesda Community Mission, P.O. Box 342, Erin, TN 37061.
Arrangements are in the care of Nave Funeral Home, (931) 289-4277,NaveFuneralHomes.com.
In 1947 she met and fell in love with Bobby McKinnon, a young man who was born and raised in Erin. He had just returned home from his service in the US Navy during WWW II when they met. They were married on March 13, 1949 and were married for 68 years until his death in 2017.
Her first child was born in 1953 and through the years until 1968, she gave birth to 7 children. She is a Grandmother to 12, a great Grandmother to 12 and a great great Grandmother to 3.
Through the years, when her children were in school, she was involved in volunteer work with her children's’ school, PTA, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and her church. After her youngest children were older, she worked outside the home predominately in accounting.
During her life she lived in Paris, TN, Montgomery, AL, Nashville, Clarksville, TN, Little Rock AR, Meridian, MS and come full circle back to Erin. She and Bob moved back to Erin in 1990 into the house where Bob grew up on Main Street. She was then employed by Erin Bank and Trust Co. Even before her retirement she served in many volunteer roles in Erin. Up until her death, she was still serving as the treasurer of Erin United Methodist Church. She has held this role for 28 plus years. She has also served on the finance and the endowment committees and on the administrative council.
She was a 42 year breast cancer survivor and served as president of the Houston County Chapter of the American Cancer Society. She worked tirelessly for Relay for Life and served as a speaker. She also volunteered with Reach For Recovery as a mentor to women who were suffering from breast cancer.
She served as the treasurer and board member of the Friends of the Library, the Houston County Historical Society and Erin Oak Hill Cemetery. She was past vice president, secretary and board member of the Houston County Chamber of Commerce.
She was a board member of the Erin Community Theater, Houston County Art Council and the Highland Rim Economic Development. She was secretary and treasurer for years for the Shamrock Club.
She was a board member of the Mid Cumberland Community Service Agency board, where she obtained a $50,000. Grant for the forming of the Houston County Youth Center. She was a member of the Houston County Lions Club and assisted the American Legion with their record keeping of the veterans graves in Houston County cemeteries.
She served on the committee for the Tennessee State Three Star Re-certification program for the city of Erin.
She worked a food drive following a mail carrier’s route for one day in Houston County collecting a record of over 900 pounds of food for the Bethesda Mission.
She has chaired committees for the Houston County High School Academic Banquet, the Irish Banquet, Business and Industry Luncheon, Chamber of Commerce membership banquets, Lord High Mayor’s breakfast and was currently working on getting donations from individuals and business for a country ham give away at the Christmas Kick off for the Chamber of Commerce. She, alone, had collected enough money to purchase 65 country hams to give away.
She was very active in Leadership Houston County, graduating in 2012 and serving as a facilitator for the retreats, graduation and on the advisory board. She received many awards of special appreciation from Leadership Houston County for her dedication and service.
In 2000 she received her highest honor when she was elected “Lord High Mayor” for the Erin Irish Celebration. This is the highest honor a person can receive for civic service to Erin and Houston County.
In 2012 she was named volunteer of the year by the Chamber of Commerce. She received “The Pride of Erin” perpetual cup.
She was a member of the FCE--Family & Community Education club. She always looked forward to lunch and meeting with her friends and outings with them. She was always proud to host them at her house.
In 2006 she was honored to be asked to write and read a poem about the history of the city of Erin. This started a love of writing poetry. Unofficially, she was the poet laureate of Houston County. She wrote poems for and about people for many different occasions, some ending their term as president of the Chamber, retirements, welcoming new preachers, birthdays or high school reunions. She loved and called it a blessing and honor to be able to write and read them to the people she had written about. Her last poem was titled “The Birth of Houston County for the 150 year celebration of Houston County just 1 week ago.
She loved to travel, go fishing and writing poetry. For her 80th and 83rd birthday her dream of rafting the Hiwassee River with her family came true. Every morning she worked the crossword puzzle in the newspaper. She had a very sharp mind and a quick wit. She never met a stranger, she could strike up a conversation with a wrong telephone number. She loved to be around people and to help in anyway she could.
Above all her accolades, memberships and involvements, she deeply loved her family. They were always number one and she loved to be with her family and was very proud of everyone of her “kids”. She lived her life with a loving and generous heart.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 68 years Robert B. (Bobby) McKinnon, 2 day old son Robert Thomas McKinnon and 49 year old daughter Elizabeth “Betsy” Wells and brother Jim Dortch.
She is survived by her children Melinda (Pete) Wiens, Richard (Kathy) McKinnon, Leigh Ann Marshall, Janie (Dixon) McKinnon and Rob McKinnon and “sons by other Mothers” Gary Baker and Gary Chance, her brother Don (Loraine) Dortch and sister Kittye (Bobby) Way.
Honorary Pall bearers are Eric Wiens, Carter Dixon, Richard McKinnon, Rob McKinnon, Tyler Marshall, Jake Wiens, Ronnie Bratschi, Mitchell Smithy and Chad Smith.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 11, 2020 from 2 till 8 pm at Nave Funeral Home in Erin, Tennessee and 9 till 11 am on Thursday November 12, 2020 at Erin United Methodist Church. The service will begin at 11:00 with graveside following at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Due to restrictions from Covid 19, temperatures will be taken and masks will be required.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Erin United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 309, Erin, TN 37061 or Bethesda Community Mission, P.O. Box 342, Erin, TN 37061.
Arrangements are in the care of Nave Funeral Home, (931) 289-4277,NaveFuneralHomes.com.
To order memorial trees in memory of Bettye McKinnon, please visit our tree store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
2:00 - 8:00 pm (Central time)
Nave Funeral Home, Erin
Second Visitation
Thursday, November 12, 2020
9:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)
Erin Methodist Church
Service
Thursday, November 12, 2020
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
Erin Methodist Church
Photo Gallery
Guestbook
Visits: 2
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors