Bettye L. (reeder) Kirk

March 5, 1940 - Dec. 16, 2015
SOUTH BEND - Funeral services and visitation for Bettye Louise Kirk, 75, of South Bend, will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2015, at New Bethel Tabernacle, 2627 Napier Street, South Bend, IN. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery, South Bend. The family will greet friends from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. prior to the 1:00 p.m. funeral service at New Bethel Tabernacle.

Bettye Louise Kirk passed away on December 16, 2015, peacefully at home after a brief illness. Bettye was attended to, visited, and comforted at her home by family and friends at the time of her transition. Bettye was born in Evansville, IN, on March 5, 1940. She was the third child and only daughter of Mary Cecilia and Milton Reeder, and sister of Nathanial Reeder and Gabriel Reeder.

Bettye graduated from South Bend's Riley High School in 1958, marrying John Henry Kirk in 1958.

Bettye later graduated from Ivy Tech Community College as both a nurse's aide and later as an LPN. She attended to patients providing care with great warmth and compassion at South Bend Memorial and St. Joseph Hospitals as well as Cardinal Nursing Home. During the 1970s, Bettye also worked as a Teaching Assistant and Aide in California's Oakland Unified School District at E. Morris Cox Elementary School while continuing her work in the healthcare field. In recent years, Bettye continued her service to her community in Cadiz, KY, and South Bend and finally through service to her church, New Bethel Tabernacle of South Bend.

She is survived by her children, Clantay Renee Kirk and Kevin Lamont Kirk (Chirrika), both of South Bend, Cassandra Newhouse and Karey L. Newhouse (Kim), both of Hopkinsville, KY, and Keith Byron Kirk (Jesse) of Houston, TX. Bettye was preceded in death in 2013 by a fourth son, Robert Christopher Jones of Detroit, MI.

Bettye's absence will be felt by a generation of 19 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren who knew her far too briefly but who will grow from her warmth each day of their lives. Bettye taught and enlightened us all through laughter. She gained our trust through honesty and sharing. The measure of her life has been that of a loving, kind, and thoughtful person whose knowledge and sense of humor will be missed by all who knew her.

Although our loss cannot be repaired with flowers, we look forward to receiving them and remembering Bettye's great love of all flowers.

Palmer Funeral Home-West Chapel, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune from Dec. 17 to Dec. 18, 2015.

07/06/2023 EJS

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