Betty Jo Prince

On February 18, 2020, Betty Jo Prince, age 89, passed away at Montgomery County Nursing Home in Mount Ida, AR. Betty Jo was born to Roy and Lynn Flatte on June 13, 1930, in Big Fork, AR. She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Fred Prince; their only child, William Randall Prince; and brother, Billy Jim Flatte.

After graduating from Mount Ida High School, Betty received her Bachelor’s degree from Arkansas Tech University. As an instructor of Home Economics, most of her 32 years of teaching were spent at Mount Ida High School, before her retiring in 1985. As Betty’s past students will attest, she was not only an excellent teacher; she was a friend to her students, teaching them life lessons, along with the elements of becoming productive women. (In the last years of her teaching career, boys were also included in her classes.)

Betty was a very active member of First Baptist Church in Mt. Ida—singing in the choir, planning dinners and social events, attending prayer meetings and serving on various committees. Perhaps her greatest contribution was her teaching Sunday school classes at Montgomery County Nursing Home every Sunday for about 30 years.

Betty was involved in various community activities, including the following: Montgomery County Council for Performing Arts, Heritage House Museum, Chapter #20 of Eastern Star, Montgomery County Historical Society, Montgomery County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, and the Sesquicentennial Project Special Committee. She was instrumental in the production of a two-volume history of Montgomery County, with submitted stories about various communities and families. In 1980, she was chosen by the area Chamber of Commerce as “Volunteer of the Year.”

Seeing the world was one of the highlights of Betty’s life. After retirement, she traveled, with her friend and cousin, Glenna Lybrand, to 55 countries on all seven continents. However, life itself was Betty’s grandest trip, meeting every day with joy, gusto and involvement in any worthy cause that came her way.

Betty is survived by a sister, Peggy Scales; an aunt, Mary Jo Flatte; a very special niece,
Kathy Whisenhunt (Joe), she raised lovingly including her children Angela Daley, Blaine Whisenhunt (Brooke) and Holly Hibbs (Lyle), along with their children; and numerous nieces, nephews, and their children, whom Betty adored.

A Celebration of Life for Betty will be held at First Baptist Church in Mount Ida on February 22nd at 2pm with Rev. Bill Ashburn officiating. Arrangements were made under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida, AR. Guest register at www.thorntonfh.com