Bettie McGann King

October 6, 1928 - September 14, 2020

Bettie McGann King, 91, formerly of Memphis and Cordova, died September 14, 2020, at Cornerstone Assisted Living, Milford, Massachusetts. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Bettie was the daughter of the late D. D. and Aline (Smith) McGann. A child of the Great Depression, she lined her shoes with cardboard when the soles wore out and, at age 15, left Treadwell High School to go to work. Not long after Thomas C. King returned from WWII, Bettie eloped with him, beginning her life as a homemaker when she was only 18. Bettie treated family and friends to Southern favorites cooked to perfection. One of her specialties was the fried quail she prepared when Thomas had a good day bird-hunting. Bettie was not a homebody. She and Thomas spent many fishing weekends with 10 members of her extended McGann family crowded into a two-room cabin at Maddox Bay, Arkansas, often rising before dawn to get out on the water. In later years, the couple enjoyed raising vegetables and riding horses at their farm in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and traveled in the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Golf was her favorite sport: one of her proudest moments was sinking a hole-in-one at Colonial Country Club. She played in couples’ tournaments with Thomas and in ladies’ leagues and tourneys around the Mid-South. For 50 years, Bettie and Thomas also supported University of Memphis sports. After Thomas’s death in 1996, Bettie remained a loyal fan and sponsor: she was given the Ralph Hatley Silver M Award by the University in 2004. An animal lover, Bettie coddled her pets, including her poodles, Sassy and Cal, and a few shy cats. At one time (before she realized the potential danger), she used her patio as a feeding station for a large contingent of raccoons. Bettie lived in Hernando, Mississippi, for several years, next door to her sister and brother-in-law, Peggy and Albert Broadway, who were her best friends and took on the role of caregivers when she became ill. In 2014, Bettie moved to Massachusetts, to be near her daughter, Sheryl King, and her son-in-law, Bob McCarthy, as well as Bettie’s four grandchildren, Neia, Anna Patricia, Denny and Andrew “Gil” McCarthy, and her great-granddaughter, Gabby Nosek. They are grateful for the special occasions and fun they shared with Bettie — from Bingo nights to birthdays, including Bettie’s 90th and 91st birthdays. Despite her years living with Alzheimer’s, she recognized and loved her family and kept her sense of humor. Bettie is also survived by her Hernando family: her sister, Peggy; her niece Donna Broadway Sularin and her great nephew Kirk Sularin. In addition, she is survived by her nephew Mike King as well as many other nephews, nieces and cousins. She was predeceased by her three brothers-in-law, Albert Broadway, Frank King and Curtis King. Bettie’s family members send thanks to Jenn Hozempa, Jane Conner and the entire staff of Cornerstone at Milford for the activities, companionship and care they provided for more than six years. Due to the ongoing pandemic, Bettie’s funeral service and interment at Memphis Memorial Park Cemetery will be private. However, a webcast of her service will begin at 2:30 p.m., Central Time (3:30, Eastern Time), on Thursday, September 24. It will remain available for 90 days afterward. To view the virtual service click the link below: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/37427 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Worcester County Food Bank at foodbank.org or to the charity of your choice but, to celebrate Bettie’s memory, please treat yourself to a pulled pork barbecue sandwich, a slice of pecan pie or a round of golf. To view the tribute slideshow click the link below: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/2PLG5ZX64L2Q6K6Q