Betty A. Fillingham

Celebration of Life at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at Northvale Baptist Church, with arrangements by Holt Memorial Chapel.

Betty Ann Fillingham, 76, of Harrison, passed away Sunday, July 8 (2018) at Harrison Rehab and Health nursing home in Harrison.

Betty was born Sept. 11, 1941, in Harrison. She was the second of three daughters born to Tracey Elmo and Zesta (Jones) Risley.

She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior as a young teen. Betty graduated from Harrison High School in 1960. That same year she met the love of her life, Edward Fillingham, and they were married on August 26, 1961, at Northvale Baptist Church. When Eddie passed in March, they had been married for 56 years.

Shortly after marriage, Ed and Betty purchased the family farm from his parents and operated a dairy farm for more than three decades. During that time, Betty excelled at homemaking and delighted in feeding people whether by cooking or baking.

Eddie and Betty were the proud parents of Douglas Edward and enjoyed being active in baseball and FFA with him until his death Jan. 19, 1980.

Betty is survived by her two sisters, Shirley Mullins and Patty (Karl) Kelley, both of Harrison and by three sisters-in-law, Marian (James) Cox of Little Rock, June of Kansas City, Kansas, and Betty Lou Tucker of Jet, Oklahoma. She is fondly remembered and deeply missed by a host of nieces and nephews and their families.

Betty overcame many fears in her life — driving, bridges, being alone. To be the last of her little family of three was never her plan nor her desire. We, her family, are grateful she is now reunited with them in heaven.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Northvale Baptist Church. Memorial gifts may be sent to Legacy Hospice in Harrison in memory of the loving care they provided for more than two years.

Arrangements are under the direction of Holt Memorial Chapel.