Betty Harper
Betty Myers Murphy Harper of Cleveland, passed away on December 17, 2018, in a Cleveland health care facility.
She was born in Calhoun, Tn., on Aug. 27, 1928, the third of six children, to Gid and Blanche Lipps Myers.
She graduated from Calhoun High School in 1946 where she was on the basketball team and skipped school, at least once, to go fishing.
Betty married J. A. (Mutt) Murphy in 1947. After his death she married Max Harper in 1961. Together they owned and operated North Lee Bowling Lanes for over 30 years. Betty and Max spent many glorious days on golf courses around the U.S. and were charter members of Cleveland County Club. They never went on a trip without their golf clubs in the trunk of the car-just in case they saw a course they wanted to try.
Having no children of their own, Betty and Max opened their home to their family. They were the fun adults in the family, and visiting them meant pool parties, boating on Parksville Lake, bowling till your arm ached, riding their horse, playing golf, or going on a bowling or beach trip. The invitation was always open to spend the night where nieces and nephews knew they could stay up or sleep in as long as they wanted.
Their friends were invited over for luaus, picnics, hayrides, or card games. Betty had decorations for every holiday and enjoyed preparing the house as much as the event itself.
After Max's death in 2003, things quieted down for Betty, but she could still be seen taking in a community concert, having lunch with friends, or singing in the community chorus. The "Four Cousins" went on day trips to area attractions with Betty driving the back roads because she didn't like interstates.
She was a life-long member of Calhoun United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and was a member of the Gadabouts.
Betty often said she enjoyed visiting new places but always looked forward to getting back home. She liked to look across the farmland watching the seasons change and tending the flowers in her yard.
In addition to her parents and her spouses, Betty was preceded in death by her sisters, Alice Edwards and Mildred Myers and her brothers, Felix Myers and Russell Myers.
She is survived by her brother, Fred Myers of Dunwoody, Ga., sister-in-law, Mildred Myers of Knoxville, brother-in-law, Herb Harper of Cleveland, numerous nieces, nephews and their families, cousins, and many dear friends.
The Remembrance of Life Service will be held at Calhoun United Methodist Church, 820 Highway 163, Calhoun, Tn. 37309 on Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 11 a.m. with Reverend Corey Miller to officiate. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Cleveland, Tn. at 3 p.m.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. at Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services North Ocoee St. Chapel, 2600 North Ocoee Street, Cleveland on Dec. 18.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calhoun United Methodist Church or Habitat for Humanity, 300 Grove Ave. Cleveland, Tn., 37311.