Obituary of Betty May Smith

Betty May Smith, 83, of Davenport, went peacefully in to the arms of the Lord on June 10, 2019 at Robinson Terrace.

Betty was born in Stamford on December 2, 1935, She was the daughter of the late Walter and Mima (Butts) Gildersleeve.

On July 27, 1958, Betty married her sweetheart Roy E. Smith at the Methodist Church in Davenport. She was a homemaker raising her three children: Roy Dean, Becky Hope and Eleanor Mima.  Once they were school age Betty went to work at Charlotte Valley Central School as a Kitchen Aide and School Bus Driver.  She loved the students as if they were her own.   With that much love, She and Roy became foster parents for many years, bringing in troubled kids and giving them a loving home and family.

Betty was a member of the Charlotte Valley Larger Presbyterian Church and the Davenport Fire Department Auxiliary.  Among her many other hobbies were sewing, crocheting, and later on enjoying adult coloring books.  A talented seamstress, she made many prom dresses, costumes, dresses for her granddaughters and in 2011 Betty made her daughter Elly’s wedding dress.  When Roy retired the couple began making wooden lawn ornaments, which they enjoyed doing together.  Betty’s greatest joy was spending time with her family, when they were together you can safely bet a deck of cards would be out and ready to play a game or two, her laugh would and will always be the light of her family.

Besides her parents, Betty was predeceased by two brothers: Duncan and Walter Gildersleeve and a sister: June McCraken.

She is survived by her long time sweetheart of 60 years: Roy; her children: Roy Dean (Kristi), Becky (Tim) and Elly (Harley); grandchildren: Jeremy (Christina), Joshua (Lacey), Dakotah (Rachael) and Trinity; a great-granddaughter: Loralie; a sister: Nancy; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 2PM on Thursday, August 1, 2019 at the Charlotte Valley Presbyterian Church, Davenport.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Betty may be made to Robinson Terrace Nursing Home or Charlotte Valley Presbyterian Church.

The family would like to thank the Doctors, Nurses and Staff at Bassett Medical Center 3^rd floor ICU, AO Fox Memorial Hospital and Robinson Terrace (Bathgate Unit).

Please visit www.macarthurfh.com to share a condolence with the Smith Family.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)