Betty J. (Smith) McLemore

Feb. 10, 1916 — Oct. 30, 2005

Betty J. McLemore, 89, of Park Place, Mishawaka, passed away Sunday, October 30, 2005, in her residence. She was born on February 10, 1916, in Elkhart, Indiana, to the late William E and Arvada (Keely) Smith. Betty moved to South Bend and went on to the brand new IUSB after graduating from Riley High School as valedictorian. Betty spent one year there, then went to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, graduating with a major in Latin. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and Phi Beta Kappa. She was very proud of the fact, too, that she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in college as honorary fraternity.

Following her graduation from college, she taught junior high Latin, English and history for two years at Jefferson School in South Bend. She was remembered by her students, who would come up to when she was out, giving her a hug and expressing appreciation for the terrific teacher she was. Betty met her future husband, Lotus "Mac" McLemore on a blind date while in college.

On September 2, 1939, in South Bend, she married Lotus McLemore, who preceded her in death on August 22, 1993. Also preceding her in death was her sister, Carol Stanfield.

Betty was a member of First Christian Church of South Bend, had been president of the AAUW, president of the Pan Hellenic Assn., and president of the PTA. She retired from the South Bend Community School Corporation in 1983 after many years of teaching. Betty enjoyed knitting, sewing, bridge and reading. She would want to be remembered as a great teacher and good mother, and she had been both.

Betty is survived by her three loving sons, Craig S. McLemore of South Bend, Douglas O. McLemore of Chicago, Ill., and W. Mark McLemore of Nashville, Tenn.; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A private memorial service was held for the family. Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William Street, South Bend, assisted the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, Betty's fam-ily requests that memorial contributions be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637. 

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com, and FindAGrave.com

02/23/2024 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96339840/betty-jane-mclemore