Betty Jo Rose

Betty Jo (Bailey) Rose was called home on December 2, 2020 in Waldron, AR. She was born on April 12, 1934 in Waldron, AR to Herman Clayton and Dixie (Swindle) Bailey.

She married the love of her life, John Stephen Rose Sr. in 1949 and again in 1963. During their 50 year union they had four children, John Jr., Verna Lea, Bettye Lavonne and Thomas Clayton. Betty was a loving wife, a caring mother, grandmother and aunt. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren loved her dearly.

Some of Mrs. Rose’s life experiences consisted of working as a seamstress at the Waldron Furniture Factory for 26 years before retiring when the factory shut down in 1987. She and her husband started a church in Mena, AR in 1965, called the Fourth Street Church. After four years there, she served her Lord and Savior at the Bush Community Church in Waldron. This is where she remained as a member for 42 years until she was unable to attend. During her time at Bush she exemplified her faith in her Lord, Jesus Christ, by teaching Sunday School Classes, playing the piano, and singing praises in admiration of Him. Betty loved playing the piano, singing at church, reading her Bible and other books; she also took great pride and time in studying the lessons for her Sunday School Class. Being in service for Jesus was something she did not take lightly. She strived to be a good example for her family and others. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers: Ruffus, Gilbert, and Luther Bailey; one infant sister, Thelma Unice; one grandson, Stephen Ray Rose; and one great-granddaughter, Ashton Lynn Smith. Also her in-laws, John Thomas and Ruth Gertrude (Sutton) Rose; two brothers in-law, Claude and Albert Rose; six sisters in-law, Selma Smith, Lorene Rose, Becky Bailey, Lorene Bailey, Bonnie Forrest, Mary Rose, Imogene McCurry and Betty Boggs.

She is survived by her four children: John Jr. of Guys, TN, Verna and husband Wayne Smith of Heavener, OK, Lavonne Page of Waldron, AR, and Thomas and Karen of Fayetteville, AR; Two sisters in-law: Mahale Bailey of Waldron, AR and Joyce Rose of Story, AR. Grandma Rose is also survived by 10 grandchildren: April Shannon, Bobby Page, Jamie Page, Wayne Smith II, Jorena Stapp, Becky Bivins, Erik Smith, John Thomas Rose, Thomas Rose II, and Misty Allen. 23 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren, plus many other relatives and very dear friends.

Betty's life celebration will be Saturday, December 5, 2020, at 2:00 pm at Duncan Cemetery in Waldron, AR. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.  Betty’s visitation will be December 5, 2020 from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home, the family will be there to greet you.

Betty's pallbearers will be her grandchildren: April Shannon, Wayne Smith II, Jorena Stapp, Becky Bivins, Erik Smith, and Thomas Rose II. Honorary pallbearers will be Sue Bottoms, Ivy Hicks, Richard Wright, Margie Mack, Nadine Koph and Dixe Smith.