Mary Katherine (Betts) Surguine

Mary Katherine (Betts) Surguine, 86, passed away peacefully on April 16, 2016, in Franklin, Ind. She relocated to the Franklin United Methodist Community in 2013 from Bella Vista, Ark., where she had lived happily since 1993. An Arkansas native, Mary Kay grew deep roots in Bella Vista and cultivated many lasting friendships and fond memories that gave her great joy and comfort. Mary Kay was born in Aug. 22, 1929, in Hope, Ark., to her parents Harvey Betts and Mildred (Jones) Betts Allen. She attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where she was a voice major and a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. Her children have fond memories of her beautiful soprano voice and are grateful for instilling in them a deep love for music. She was a member of the Daughter's of the American Revolution, and had a keen interest in genealogy. Mary Kay is survived by her three children: Melissa Surguine-Smith of Charlottesville, Va., Robin (Norman) Surguine Ross of Chicago, Ill., and Scott (Ruth) Surguine of Collierville, Tenn.; four grandchildren: Parker Ross of Indianapolis, Ariel (Steve) Hartman of Ponte Vedra, Fla., Emily Smith of Charlottesville, Va., and Lauren Smith of Oklahoma City; and one great-grandson: Louis Hartman. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank McCormick Surguine, her parents, Harvey Betts and Mildred Allen, and her step-father, Isadore Austin Allen. Services for Mary Kay will be held at St. Theodore's Episcopal Church in Bella Vista, Ark., on Saturday, May 28 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Theodore's Episcopal Church Memorial Fund.