Betty Whisnant

HICKORY Betty Gayle Jones Whisnant, 79, of Hickory, passed away Thursday, March 14, 2013, at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory. Born July 30, 1933, in Salisbury, she was the daughter of the late James Claude Jones and Nellie Smith Jones. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Nelson Whisnant Sr.; a son, James Lee Whisnant Sr.; and a daughter, Lisa Gayle Whisnant Meitin. A lifelong, active member of Bethany Lutheran Church, she worked with her husband as co-owner of Catawba Valley Machinery Company. Betty was a proud member of the D.A.R., the Needlepoint Guild and she greatly enjoyed her bridge club. She and her husband loved to travel and enjoyed going with their friends, "The Blue Ridge Pioneers", all over the United States. She also enjoyed their Thanksgiving family gatherings. She is survived by her son, A. Nelson Whisnant Jr. and wife, Sandy, of Monroe; sister, Jo Lowder, of Little River, S.C.; daughter-in-law, Sandra Whisnant, of Archdale; son-in-law, Jerry Meitin, of Augusta, Ga.; grandchildren, James Whisnant Jr. of Archdale, Elizabeth Lauren Whisnant, of Oakland, Calif., Harrison Scott Whisnant and Ashley C. Whisnant, both of Monroe, Jim Key, of Augusta, Ga., Patricia Gilks, of Hickory; two great-grandchildren; and a niece, Paula Jo Calhoun, of Knoxville, Tenn. The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 17, at Bethany Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Dan Duke officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 3 p.m. prior to the service in the Parish Center at the church. Memorials may be made in her honor to Bethany Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 1644 Main Ave. Dr., NW, Hickory, NC 28601 or Susan G. Komen for the Cure , P.O. Box 601597, Charlotte, NC 28260-1597. Bass-Smith Funeral Home in Hickory is serving the family of Betty Gayle Jones Whisnant, and condolences may be left at www.bass-smith funeralhome.com.

Published in Hickory Daily Record on March 15, 2013