Bettye L. (Foster) Mead

Bettye L. (Foster) Mead, 69, of Evansville, died Friday, March 16, 2007, at St. Mary's Hospital.

Bettye was born in Montgomery County, Tenn., to Samuel M. Foster and the former Mary Marie Choate. After growing up in the Guthrie, Tenn., area, Bettye and her family moved to Evansville in 1944. They made a new home for themselves in what used to be called Villa Sites. Bettye, the sixth of seven girls, loved to tell stories about her childhood and what it was like living in a house with so many girls.

Bettye graduated from Lodge School and attended Bosse High School [1955?]. She married Fred R. Mead in 1960. After that, Bettye devoted her time to her husband and their home. She and Fred had two children of their own who became the central focus of her life. They remained so to the end, but the boys were eventually joined by their spouses and children. Bettye loved her grandchildren and spent many hours with them telling stories, reading books, playing games and working on homework. She enjoyed crocheting, sewing, playing cards, gardening and most of all spending time with her family.

She was a member of Evansville General Baptist Church, Eastview Neighborhood Association, Evansville Lodge Salvation Army Home League and the Sheet Metal Workers Retiree's Club. She was a volunteer at the SWIRCA senior meals program at Nativity Church.

Bettye was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Fred R. Mead; her parents; three sisters, Minnie Lynn, Cathryn Logan and Maggie Rodgers; and two brothers-in-law, Roberson Sale and JT Lynn.

She is survived by two sons and their wives, Tony and Amy Mead of Evansville, and Fred Jr. and Nancy Mead of Kankakee, Ill.; daughter, Ginny Sue Janovich of New Haven, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Tim Mead of Oklahoma, Greg Janovich of Carmi, Chrissy Bowles of New Haven, Tonya Mead of West Palm Beach, Fla., Samantha Mead of Iowa City, Iowa, Benjamin Mead of Kankakee and Emily Mead of Evansville; four great-grandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law, Delia Mae, Clifton Riggins and Erma Sale, all of Evansville, Bryce Rodgers of Hatfield, Ind., David Logan of Bedford, Ind., and Pearl and Walter Beshears of Wadesville; several nieces and nephews; and two uncles, Holland Choate of Bon Aqua, Tenn., and Eldo Foster of Clarksville, Tenn.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 30, 2007, at Alexander East Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Jim Pickerill of Evansville General Baptist Church and Bettye's brother-in-law, Major David Logan, of the Salvation Army.

Friends may call today from 2 to 8 p.m. and from 9 a.m. until service time Friday at Alexander East Chapel, with burial in Park Lawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Evansville General Baptist Church, 2002 Hicks Drive, Evansville, IN 47714. These donations will go into the Church's Building Fund.