Betty Jean Courtway

Noted birdwatcher and community servant Betty Jean (Sugg) Courtway departed this life on Friday February 5, 2016 at the age of 86. She was born on February 27, 1929 in Memphis, Tenn., the oldest child and only daughter of Thomas L. and Lona L. Sugg. Her father was employed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and the family moved numerous times before settling in Wynne AR where she graduated from Wynne High School in 1947. Betty attended St. Joseph School of Nursing in Memphis for one year, returning home to care for her younger brothers following the death of her mother. In 1948 Betty married Bob Courtway and she joined him in Conway where they both attended Arkansas State Teachers College. While at ASTC she played on the tennis team and developed her lifelong love of the sport. Although the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference did not formally recognize women's tennis at the time, she was a teammate on the winning women's doubles team in 1949 and the singles champion in 1950. Bob graduates from ASTC in 1950 and began his first coaching job at Holly Grove and Betty also taught in the school district there. During their four years there, her oldest son tom was born. In 1954 the family moved to Wilson, where both Bob and Betty taught in the school district. During the seven years in Wilson, three more sons were born, Bobby, John and Jeff. In 1961 the family moved back to Conway, where Bob was hired as the Hendrix swimming coach. Moving back to Conway allowed Betty to complete her undergraduate degree in 1964. The following year saw the birth of her only daughter, Susie. Betty began teaching kindergarten the next year and would continue until her retirement in 1993. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Ray Sugg, and her husband of 48 years, Bob. She is survived by her five children, 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Survivors include Tom Melisa) Courtway, Corey (Chelesy) Davidson, Drew (Alicia) Courtway, Ryan (Janine) Davidson, Brad (Caity) Courtway, Robert (Myung Hee) Courtway, Jessica Courtway, Allen Courtway, John (Claudia) Courtway, Katy Courtway, Rob Courtway, Jenny Courtway, Annie Courtway, Heidi Courtway, Jeff (Brooks Anne) Courtway, Lauren Courtway, Erin (E.J.) Roussell, Colton Courtway and Susie Courtway. She is also survived by her five brothers; Richard (Pat) Sugg of Wichita Falls, Texas, Robert (Darlene) Sugg of Dyersburg, Tenn., Jim (Lou) Sugg of Wynne, Jack (Janet) Sugg of Jonesboro, and Ronnie (Marjorie) Sugg of Zephyrills, Fla. Betty was a member of First United Methodist Church of Conway, the Faulkner County Retired Teachers, Conway Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, Friends of the Faulkner County Library, and the Conway Civic League. Betty loved the outdoors, birdwatching, tennis, music, gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. There will be a Memorial Celebration of her life, Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Conway. In lieu of flowers the family requests any donations be made to the First United Methodist Church in Conway, the Salvation Army, Hendrix College or the UCA Foundation. Online Guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/Conway.