Betty Frances Moore Brown

Betty Frances Moore Brown passed away on August 25, 2015, in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was born on June 14, 1930, in Jackson, Tennessee, to the late Frances Vestal Potts and Charles Odolphus Moore. Betty grew up in Gould, Arkansas where she attended high school and was a cheerleader. She attended Mississippi State College for Women and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in English and minors in music and history. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Lee Brown, her son, Michael Moore Brown, and her two brothers, James Amos Moore and Charles Elbert Moore. Prior to her marriage, Betty worked at the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., in the personnel department for two years until she returned to Little Rock to become married. She also worked at Southwestern Bell as a service representative in Little Rock. Following her husband's unexpected death in 1981, Betty became the president and eventually chairman of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Northeast Arkansas and ran the company until its sale in 1993. She served on the board of the Arkansas Soft Drink Association and was elected president of that organization. Betty also served on the boards of Worthen National Bank and its successors, the Women's Professional Advisory Board, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, CARTI, the Pulaski County chapter of the American Red Cross, and Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. She was named queen of The Rep's annual Saints and Sinners Ball in 2004. Betty participated in several book clubs and supper clubs. Betty enjoyed playing the piano, watching all sports (especially the Razorbacks), traveling, watching live music and theater, and reading (particularly William Faulkner). She is survived by her son, Joseph Lee Brown, Jr., and his wife, Robin; her daughter, Stephanie Bradley Brown Kyser, and her husband, Steven; her grandchildren, Lauren Michelle Brown, Caitlyn Nicole Brown, Alexander Lee Brown, and Harrison Scott Brown; and a great-granddaughter, Tatum Nicole West. Visitation will be held from 5–7 p.m. on Friday, August 28 at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 West Markham Street in Little Rock. After a private burial, funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 31 at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Drive, Little Rock, Ark. 72205. Reverend Jacob Lynn will officiate. The family wishes to thank the nice people at Briarwood Nursing Home where Betty lived for the past four and a half years. Memorials may be made to the Betty Moore Brown Endowed Scholarship at the University of Arkansas, 300 UNHS, 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark. 72701; Arkansas Repertory Theatre, P.O. Box 110, Little Rock, Ark. 72203; or Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.