Betty Castleberry Pryor

Betty Castleberry Pryor, 78, of Jonesboro, died Thursday, January 5, 2012, in Jonesboro, Ark. from complications of Parkinson's Disease. Betty was born August 24, 1933 in Newport, Ark. to Dr. CC Castleberry and Metta (Davis) Castleberry. She graduated from Newport High School in 1951 and was Miss Newport of that year. Betty won numerous beauty pagents in Northeast Arkansas. While attending The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, was crowned Miss University of Arkansas 1952 and was a runner up in the Miss Arkansas pagent. At the University she met her husband Dean Pryor, they were married in Newport August 9, 1953. Betty was the mother of three daughters. Throughout her life Betty moved numerous times following her husbands coaching career. She earned her degree in education at Kansas State University in 1969 and began her own profession as an elementary school teacher. Betty taught school in Kansas, South Dakota and Arkansas including teaching for 25 years in the Nettleton and Jonesboro Schools. She had many fond memories of the students she taught. Betty loved to sing and started singing at a young age. As a child she was known to end a song with a tap dance, including at the age of 5, a memorable performance of Micky Mouse's Birthday Party at Sunday School. She sang in the church choir at the First United Methodist Church, Jonesboro, Ark. but no longer included the tap dance finale. Betty enjoyed traveling, cross stitching and playing bridge. She loved giraffes and collected them throughout her lifetime. Betty is survived by her husband of 58 years, Dean Pryor of Jonesboro. Her daughters, Cindy Lamkin and husband Mark of Fort Worth, Texas, Susan Kjellsen and husband Dan of Mesa, Ariz., Nancy Woodward and husband Reid of Waldo, Ark.; six grandchildren, Jennifer Lamkin, Melissa Lamkin, Hannah Lamkin, Richard Kjellsen, Blair Woodward and Stonewall Woodward and two sisters, Metta Lynn Crank and Mitzi Phillips. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, January 7, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. in Emerson Memorial Chapel in Jonesboro with Rev. Patty Soward officiating. Burial will be private. Visitation will follow the service in the chapel. In lieu of flowers, Betty's family requests friends honor her memory by encouraging children to excel in school. Online registry at www.emersonfuneralhome.com.