Thirsie Imogene Bettis Norris

Thirsie Imogene Bettis Norris was born February 8, 1919, in Salem, Arkansas and later moved to Poughkeepsie, Arkansas where she met and married the love of her life, Don Taylor Norris, to whom she was married for 67 years. She lived most of her married life in Poughkeepsie, and Kokomo, Indiana. She passed from this life in a nursing home in Fordyce, Arkansas, and went to be with her Lord on May 1, 2013 at the age of 94. She is preceded in death by her parents Leslie and Emma Bettis; her husband, Don Norris; one brother, William Leslie Bettis, and one granddaughter, Judy Suzanne Smead. She is survived by one brother, Delbert Bettis of Poughkeepsie, Arkansas; one daughter, Sandra Smead and husband Ronald Smead, of Kingsland, Arkansas; one son, Nathan Norris and wife Kay Candlish Norris of Judsonia, Arkansas; grandchildren, Donis Smead and wife Missy, Deann Smead Smith and husband DeWayne, Renee Smead McKelvin and husband Mike, Forrest (Captain) Smead and wife Jenny, Stephanie Norris Wade and husband Randy and Jonathan Norris and wife Terry; great-grandchildren, Rachelle Wade, Kyler Wade, Stephen Norris, David Norris, Cathrine Smead Phillips, Kreg Smead, Katelyn Smead, Curt Smead, Dayla Smith, Denver Smith, Dawsyn Smith, Mitchell McKelvin, Clayton McKelvin, Bradley McKelvin, Ross Smead and Case Smead; and one great-great-grandson, Riley Gatewood and a host of other relatives and great friends. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was known as the historian of Sharp County, Arkansas. People from all over the United States called her to ask about their family trees. She loved to work in her flower beds and gardens, sew, crochet, and quilt. She was a member of Little Springs Missionary Baptist Church of Poughkeepsie, Arkansas, and faithfully attended as long as she was able. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the Little Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Poughkeepsie, Arkansas. Burial will follow in the Spotts Cemetery located at Poughkeepsie with arrangements by Qualls Funeral Home of Cave City. Visitation will be held Friday May 3, 2013 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Qualls Funeral Home Chapel. Pallbearers will be Donis Smead, DeWayne Smith, Mike McKelvin, Forrest (Captain) Smead, Randy Wade and Jonathan Norris.