Bette Smith Theis

Bette Zane “Honey” Smith Theis was born Oct. 17, 1930, in Spearsville, LA, and passed away Oct. 14, 2025, in Baton Rouge. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She grew up on a farm in North Louisiana where she learned the importance of family, hard work, neighborly love, and faith in God. 

Honey loved the Lord and served Him daily. She also loved music and sang alto in church choirs throughout her life, including Metairie Baptist, First Baptist of Baton Rouge, University Baptist, and Broadmoor Baptist where she also served as a deacon. Honey was a longtime member of the Baton Rouge Chorus of Sweet Adelines International where she served as President and traveled the world, bringing joy and entertainment to thousands of people.

She recently celebrated 76 years of marriage to Arthur Richard “Art” Theis of Shreveport, whom she met while attending Louisiana Tech University. His service in the U.S. Navy, during World War II and the Korean War, took her to various places, including Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Honey worked throughout her life, first serving as a telephone operator in Ruston and then as a kindergarten teacher and director in Metairie. After moving to Baton Rouge in 1970, she began working at the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and was later appointed Executive Director by Governor Edwin Edwards. She served in that capacity until 1993 when she retired from state government.

She is survived by her husband, daughters Marsha Jabour and husband Rusty, and Sandra Alessi and husband Jim; grandsons Christopher Harpin and wife Carla; and Todd Jabour; granddaughter Foster Alessi; and great granddaughters Madaleine Alessi and Alexandra Alessi; sister-in-law Irlene Smith; brother-in-law Bobby Elkins, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Honey was preceded in death by her parents, Harmon and Eva Rogers Smith; and siblings, George Harmon Smith, Rudolph Smith, Lavon Smith, Kenneth Smith, LaNelle Rambin, and Elizabeth Elkins.

She was interred on Oct. 18 at Spearsville Cemetery after a private service officiated by Dr. Daniel Hall of Madison, MS. The family would like to thank Farrar Funeral Home in Farmerville and the staff at St. Joseph’s Carpenter House in Baton Rouge for their loving care.