Bettye Lachone Narrimore
Bettye Lachone Narrimore, 59, of Soddy Daisy, died on Saturday, September 13, 2014.
Bettye Lachone Narrimore was a fairy princess, a mermaid queen, a killer volleyball player, an amazing artist, a teacher extraordinaire, and above all else, a woman who knew how to love.
She was born on May 24, 1955 in Hixson Hospital because her mother and namesake, Bettye Narrimore, waited too late to head to Erlanger Hospital. In one of those connectional mysteries of life, Chone’s mom shared a room with the mother of another baby, Barbara Allen who became one of Chone’s closest friends. The hospital was torn down, but the friendship endured forever.
Lachone was named after her beloved mother, Bettye Jo, but she was also her dad’s favorite daughter. Lachone and Leonard shared a propensity for fast cars, great music, flea markets and going to church together at Calvary Baptist. Chone’s two sisters, Bev and Sherry, loved her to distraction despite the fact that she was smarter and sweeter than the two of them put together. Chone was so drop dead gorgeous that her older sister refused to let her answer the door when her dates arrived during high school.
Chone graduated with honors from Hixson High School and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a focus on art, education, boys and good times. She was an accomplished artist who could work in any media and once fashioned an award winning costume for her sister solely on the basis of items contained in the back seat of her car. Chone took her passion for art and used it for 37 years of teaching at Soddy Elementary School and Soddy Daisy Middle School. She was a gifted and award winning teacher, but she didn’t just teach art. Chone opened up the possibilities of creativity to countless young minds over two generations of students. Her legacy will live on in the many lives she touched and transformed.
Chone loved cooking and holidays with an equal passion. She was a great cook and the only family member who could recreate both the Schuhmacher and the Johnson dressing for Thanksgiving dinner. She delighted in “party food” and believed any food tasted better served in a martini glass. Chone celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas with wild abandon and believed you could never have too many paper turkeys or Christmas trees; her personal record was a Christmas tree in every room, bathrooms included.
Chone was gifted at so many things, but perhaps her greatest gift was for friendship. Chone had friends, lots of friends, a posse of friends whom she loved and who loved her right back. Those friendships sustained her in a life that sometimes felt like Mr. Toad’s wild ride. Chone’s sweetness and ability to make friends was even apparent at the very end of her life. While under Hospice care at Erlanger, six of the ICU nurses who had cared for her so tenderly made the trek down to see her.
Chone loved often, but not always well. So her family is grateful she found safe harbor with her beloved companion, Kenny Eakins, in the final season of life. Kenny’s devotion and love especially in her final days was an inspiration to all concerned.
The most powerful inspiration, though, was Chone’s valiant fight against the heart disease that claimed her life. Chone never lost her cheerful spirit, her optimistic attitude and the unflagging belief that she would be well again someday. Her fight was sustained by her younger sister, Beverly, who never left her side and moved heaven and earth in an attempt to find medical care that could restore her health. If you want to see heroes, take a look at a photo of Chone and Bev smiling together in assorted hospital rooms.
Because Lachone Narrimore had a gift for love, she will be missed by so many, especially her family. She will be remembered forever by her dad, Leonard Narrimore, her two sisters, Bev Narrimore and Sherry Narrimore Harris and her brother in law, Mike, whom she loved like her brother. Chone loved her Uncle Joe Shadwick, Aunt Lodema Bean, Aunt Sue and Uncle Ken Wilkey. She had a special place in her heart for her two nephews, Josh and Matt Harris, Matt’s wife, Ashley, and the joy of her heart, great niece, Lily Mackenna Harris who at 18 months already shares Chone’s love for art. We can’t forget the medley of amazing cousins who will always love Chone: Steve Bean, Jim Bean, Linda Floyd, Amy Weaver, Bill Shadwick, Carl Wilkey, Karen Wilkey, and Jason Wilkey; along with their terrific spouses and assorted kids and grandkids. Last but never least, we remember Chone’s family under the skin, Kaye Penney, Ruth Ann Shadwick, Karen Smith, Maribeth Fortner Wilson, and Serena Wood.
In yet another one of those connectional mysteries of life, Bettye Lachone Narrimore died on Sept. 13, in the hospital where she was supposed to have been born. We are filled with sorrow and grief, but we are sustained by Chone’s own words. The day after almost dying in Erlanger’s ER, she told a family member, “I thought I was a goner, but I woke up.” We are grateful that Chone has woken up in a far better place with a brand new heart, a place by the side of her mother, Bettye, and a God who always keeps the promise of resurrection, renewal and reunion.
We invite family and friends to join us to laugh, cry and celebrate Chone’s life with a visitation at Williamson Funeral Home in Soddy Daisy, on Sunday, Sept. 14, from 3-7 p.m. or at the funeral service on Monday, Sept. 15, at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Chone’s service will be led by her sister, Reverend Sherry Narrimore Harris who didn’t think it was Chone’s best idea, but is honored to fulfill her wish.
If you want a tangible way to remember Lachone, paint a picture, cook dinner with friends, decorate a Christmas tree, create a Thanksgiving craft or in lieu of flowers make a donation to Calvary Baptist Church on Lovell Road, Soddy Daisy, Tn. 37379 or Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House.
Condolences and memories can be shared at www.williamsonandsons.com.
Arrangements are by Williamson and Sons Funeral Home, 8852 Dayton Pike, Soddy Daisy, Tn. 37379.