Bettye Coleman King, age 96, of Rockwood, passed away Monday, December 25, 2023, at Roane Medical Center. She was born November 5, 1927, in Rockwood, Tennessee, and married Carl “Bud” King on July 1, 1957. They were lifetime members of the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Rockwood. Bettye graduated from Rockwood High School in 1945 and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1949. She began teaching at Rockwood High School with the 1949-1950 class and retired in 1981 after 31 years of teaching Home Economics. She was a member of the Roane County Retired Teachers Association.

Bettye joined the Rockwood Business and Professional Women (B.P.W.) in 1950 where she remained a faithful member for over 73 years, making her the oldest member in the state of Tennessee. This December she was honored as a 35-year member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.), Avery Trace Chapter; and a 50+ year member of the Order of the Eastern Star (O.E.S.), Rockwood Chapter # 382.

Mrs. King was an active member of the U.T. Alumni Association and an avid supporter and fan of Tennessee Volunteer Athletics, attending as many games as she could as long as her health permitted. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, art, doing genealogical research, and traveling, notably to Texas to visit her grandchildren. She loved her beloved cat, Socks the Kat, and had even raised award-winning Cocker Spaniels for a period of time.

Most of all, she loved her family, especially her grandchildren. You simply just had to mention their names and she would beam with pride; she loved them fiercely and was able to have loads of hugs and kisses in her final days.

Bettye was preceded in death by her parents: James Paul Coleman and Mary M. Melton Coleman; husband: Carl Marvin “Bud” King; brother: James Leland Coleman; father-in-law and mother-in-law: James W. “Pop” King and Myra Mae King; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Hugh Ingram King and Frances King, Dr. Glenn Wilson King, and James Horner King; and several other extended family.

Survivors include daughter and son-in-law: Blanche King Wheeless (Donald) of Midland, Texas; grandchildren: Sara Raygan Wheeless, AlmaLe` Marie Wheeless and Blane Christopher Karl Wheeless, all of Midland, Texas; sisters-in-law: Mary King of Rockwood and Pat Evans of Harriman; several nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and great-great nieces and great-great nephews and many other relatives and special friends.

The family will receive friends Thursday, January 4, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Evans Mortuary in Rockwood. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 5, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Evans Mortuary with Pastor Nate Williams officiating. Committal services and interment will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Rockwood, Tennessee.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ; P.O. Box 45, Rockwood, TN 37854.

Evans Mortuary of Rockwood is serving the family.