Betty Ruth Rose

Betty Guthridge Rose, 95, of Farmington, Arkansas passed away quietly on Friday, October 6, 2023. She was born August 13, 1928 in Chandler, Oklahoma to Carl White Guthridge and Mary Weininger Guthridge.

Because of her long life, Betty was preceded in death by her husband Jack Rose, her parents, and a number of other family members. Notably, a plane wreck in 1972 took the lives of her sister, brother-in-law, and neice; Janie, Darrell, and Margaret Gaut. In addition, her grandson Trey (Lori) Carleton lost his battle with cancer at age 41. Lori survived Trey, and lives in Ohio.
Survivors include two sons: David Rose and wife Cheryl of Farmington and Bruce Rose and wife Elaine of Mansfield, Texas; a daughter Vicki and husband Allan Carleton of Springfield, Ohio; four grandchildren: Amber (Sean) Squire, Nathan (Ayoola) Carleton, Allison (Kyle) Washler, Amanda (Trevor) Stanley; and eleven great-grandchildren: Jacob and Jacqueline Carleton; Brielle, Ellasyn and Toby Squire; Tai and Priya Carleton; Daniel and Alana Stanley; and Brooks and Riley Washler.

Growing up during the Depression, Betty spent her childhood in Chandler and Drumwright, Oklahoma, and then moved to the Canyon,Texas area around high school age. Her family owned the Weininger dairy on the outskirts of Amarillo, where she spent many hours babysitting and helping her grandmother. She would often tell stories about the dairy and beloved family members there.

One of the great hallmarks of Betty’s life was her 70-plus year marriage to Jack. The two met at West Texas State Teacher’s College in Canyon in 1947, and quickly fell for one another. After marrying, they lived in Memphis, Tennessee while Jack attended the Southern College of Optometry; this is where their family began to grow when Betty gave birth to David. After Jack’s graduation and a short hiatus in Amarillo, they moved to Memphis, Texas where they spent the most productive years of their lives, from the 1950’s through the 1990’s. During this time, they made many great friends and were involved with a wonderful church community at First Baptist Church of Memphis. After Jack retired, they moved to Possum Kingdom Lake near Fox Hollow, where their group of close friends expanded. After some years there, they moved to Farmington, to be near their son David and his extended family.
Betty was a kind, spiritual, giving, and creative woman who loved her family and others around her deeply. As to creativity, it seemed if it was a medium of graphic creation, she had to explore or at least tinker with it. She avidly painted with acrylics and oils for many years, learning in Memphis from teacher Dord Fitz. She learned gold- and silver-smithing, combining that with rock polishing to create jewelry. She took up ceramics and loved it enough to create a cottage business, teaching others the arts of glazing and firing, and selling the products. At one time, she worked with stained glass. She always had a great eye for detail.

Although constantly self-deprecating about her mental capacities, she was extremely sharp up to the end. Family members would joke about her ability to process complex ideas, and remember many things years after the events took place. Her last few years before Jack died, and several afterward, were spent living at Peachtree Village Assisted Living in Farmington. These years were made very much better, by the wonderful staff and residents of the home. The family is extremely grateful to the people of Peachtree for giving Mom and Dad so much love in their final years.

Betty was deeply committed to her faith in Christ, being an active member and worker in churches in Memphis, at their Possum Kingdom Lake community, and finally in Farmington, Arkansas. She taught her children - and many other children - about God’s love, reading Bible stories, teaching Sunday School classes and leading activities in various places. She and Jack were dependable members of church wherever they lived.

Interment services will be private, and timing of a Celebration of Life is to be determined. Memorials may be made to Main Street Baptist Church in Farmington, Arkansas, or the Fisher House (www.fisherhouse.org).