Betty Lou Pettit

TEMPE – Betty Lou Pettit, 91, passed peacefully on Wednesday, May 26th at home in Tempe with family at her side. She had been in the care of Hospice of the Valley for congestive heart failure. Betty was born August 26, 1929 to Van Barrett and Jessie Marie Gorrell in Sedalia, Missouri. She had three older siblings; brother George Hinton, and sisters Lura Marie and Margaret Genevieve.

Betty spent her childhood and early teen years in Missouri, but finished high school in Charleston, WVa, where she lived with her sister Genevieve following their mother’s death in 1943. After high school, Betty entered the McMillan Hospital School of Nursing and graduated as a registered nurse. She and high school friend George W. “Bill” Pettit married on May 5, 1951. In 1958, Betty and “Bill” moved their young family to Tucson for the dry climate. Betty continued to work in the nursing profession for the next 30 years, prior to retiring as a school nurse in the late 1980s.

Betty was predeceased in May 2020 by George, her husband of 69 years. She is survived by daughters Susan (Randy), Carolyn (Barry), Billie (Lance), grandchildren Mimi, Lauren, Hannah, Paul, Peter, many dear nieces, nephews and lifelong friends. She was a member of Catalina American Baptist Church in Tucson and later Dayspring United Methodist Church in Tempe. A celebration of life for both Betty and George is planned for 11am, Saturday October 30th at Dayspring United Methodist Church, 1365 E. Elliott Road, Tempe 85284. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, 7447 E. Earll Drive, Scottsdale 85251, Teen Challenge of Arizona, PO Box 5966, Tucson 85703 or Dayspring United Methodist Church.