HINDSVILLE — Bettie Rose McFee Byrd

of Hindsville, Ark., passed away at age 87 on November 12, 2023. She was born with bright red hair on January 1st, 1936, in a little log cabin in Thorney Creek, Ark., to Anna Mae Scranton and Floyd Lee McFee.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Gerald D. Byrd and her brother, Lee Ambrose McFee.

She is survived by her daughter, Angela Kay Byrd Nichols (Mark), her adored grandchildren, Zachary Byrd Nichols and Mollie “Malachie” Rose Nichols, and her brother, Tommy Loyce McFee (Sherry).

Bettie spoke often of how protected and loved she felt among family when growing up on Thorney Creek. She helped with farmwork like picking strawberries and drying apples. She played basketball in high school for the Huntsville Eagles and was an excellent bowler and competitive Pitch player. It was hard to find a job in Arkansas at the time she came of age, so Bettie followed her favorite cousin, Kay Dahms, to California to work for Farmers Insurance. After her father suffered a stroke, Bettie returned to Arkansas to be with family. She worked for Arkansas Western Gas until having her daughter and retiring to support and care for her family. Bettie baled hay, broke pond ice for the cattle, and tended a garden big enough to feed the family through winter.

Watching the Razorbacks, her daughter, or any relative playing sports brought Bettie great joy. Her passion for genealogy motivated her to do detailed research tracing hundreds of years of her ancestor’s history. Bettie was an avid birder and lover of wildflowers. She spent many hours wandering the woods, creeks, and valleys of her and her husband’s Madison County farm and her childhood home. The extensive knowledge and appreciation of nature Bettie instilled in her daughter and grandkids will forever be one of her most cherished legacies. Her favorite saying was “A weed is a flower growing in the wrong place” (George Washington Carver). Bettie was a bright, devoted person who loved to share stories, make blackberry pies with her grandkids, and spend time with those she loved. Bettie will be laid to rest at Mount Olive Cemetery in a private graveside celebration of her life under the direction of Moore’s Chapel. Her famous Hummingbird cake will be served. To place an online tribute, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com.