Betty Rathbone

Waynesville, Betty Rathbone, age 83, of Panther Creek Road, passed away on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at Haywood Regional Medical Center. A native of Ocean City, New Jersey, she had lived in Haywood County since 1970 and was the daughter of the late Edward and Mildred Mae Austin Pettit. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, George Cavanaugh, Sr., in 1969 and her second husband, Johnny Rathbone, in 1992 as well as two grandsons, Joshua Hickman and Andrew Grasty. She was Dr. William Prevost's office manager for more than 30 years and a member of Shepherds' Chapel in Arkansas. She is survived by five sons, Ed Hickman and Wayne Hickman (Sherry) of the Panther Creek Community, Bill Hickman (Joyce) of Clearwater, Florida, Bob Hickman (Becky) of Harrisonburg, Virginia, George Cavanaugh (Mary) of Dalton, Georgia; two daughters, Betty Spears of Gate City, Virginia and JoAnn Grasty (Doug) of the Panther Creek Community; two sisters, Ruth Ann Rathbone of Buckeye, Arizona and Faith Craig (Joe); 21 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren; and 3 great great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 in the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Jeremy Rogers and Reverend Billy Ferguson officiating. Private burial will be at a later date at Panther Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m. prior to services. For those who desire, an on-line memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at "www.wellsfuneralhome.com"

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