Mae Elizabeth "Betty" Schmid Henderson

Mae Elizabeth "Betty" Schmid Henderson, RN, passed away on Saturday, November 10, 2018. She was born May 26, 1918, graduate from Stuttgart High School and St Joseph Infirmary Training for Nurses in Hot Springs, Ark. Betty always wanted to be a registered nurse. She found joy helping and serving those she found in need. After nursing school she worked at Drennen Hospital and the Van Duyn Clinic. While working as night shift supervisor at Stuttgart Memorial Hospital she often assisted in delivering babies that arrived before the doctor. In 1965, she began her association with Crestpark Nursing Home and Retirement Inn. As the first administrator of the Stuttgart facility, she was very involved in design and construction of the building. She worked to develop staff and a philosophy for wellness of the residents. The "Betty Henderson" wing was completed and dedicated in 1998, expanding the facility to 120 beds. While serving on the boards of Arkansas Health Care Assn. and Ricebelt Vo-tech in DeWitt, Ark., she shared her working knowledge of the multiple facets of the nursing home industry. Betty was a lifetime member of the First Christian Church, Stuttgart, Ark., where she was a cheerful, faithful and active Sunday school teacher and greeter. She served on and chaired various committees and loved to serve communion. Betty was skillful as an artist, seamstress and any craftwork she chose. She enjoyed reading and working in her yard. A.J. "Jay" Henderson, Jr, her husband, preceded her in death as well as her parents Elizabeth King Sanderson and Elbert Schmid, siblings Frances Anne Shubert, Nathaniel Schmid and Kathryn Pogrund. She is survived by her sister Dorothy Schmid Watkins of Rogers, daughters Claudia H. Goacher (Jimmy), Durham, N.C., Lonna H. Rhodes (James R.), DeValls Bluff, JoAnn Henderson, Stuttgart, Betty H. Graham (Jeffery M.), Little Rock, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. A celebration of life service at First Christian Church, Stuttgart, Ark., will be held Wednesday, November 14, 2018. As per her request ashes will be privately interred. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First Christian Church, 921 S. Main Street, Stuttgart, Ark., 72160. Please go to www.turpin-co.com to sign the online guestbook.