Betty Evans

Betty Smithson Evans, 80, of Murfreesboro, Ark., passed away in her home on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Betty was born in Center Point, Ark., on Aug. 9, 1937, to the late Rufe and Lillie Loyd Smithson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister June Payne, and two brothers-in-law, H.J. Payne and Jerry Yeargan. Betty was a graduate of Nashville High School and Henderson State Teachers College. Before attending college, she worked at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield while her husband attended pharmacy school. After college graduation, she taught in the Murfreesboro Schools and later worked with her husband, father-in-law and son in the family's drugstore, Peoples Pharmacy, until her retirement. She served on the Murfreesboro Park Commission and the Pike County Library Board. Betty was a member of the Mineral Springs Church of Christ. She was an avid reader and a crossword puzzle enthusiast as well as an excellent bridge player achieving the American Contract Bridge League's Life Master status. Betty deeply loved her husband and children but it was no secret that her greatest joy was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was and always will be their Grand. Betty is survived by her husband of 62 years, Robert Evans of Murfreesboro; daughter Debbie Evans of Little Rock; son Rob Evans and his wife, Margaret, of Murfreesboro; granddaughter Britton Blough of Durham, N.C.; grandsons Neil Evans and his wife, Whitney, of Searcy and Kyle Evans and his wife, Perri, of Conway; great-granddaughters Ava and Kate Evans of Searcy; twin brother Bobby Smithson and his wife, Julia, of Arkadelphia; sister-in-law Jane Yeargan of Fayetteville; two nieces and three nephews; three very special friends Betty Davis, Gail Milum, and Cay Teague; and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be Monday, Nov. 13, at 10 a.m. at the Mineral Springs Church of Christ with Benjamin Neeley and Al Terrell officiating. Burial will follow in the Kelley Cemetery near Murfreesboro. Visitation will be Sunday, Nov. 12, from 6-8 p.m. at Latimer Funeral Home in Murfreesboro. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Southern Christian Home, 100 W. Harding St, Morrilton, Ark., 72110.