Lucile Jean Smith "Nonnie" Betts

Betts, Lucile Jean Smith "Nonnie"
Lucile Jean Smith Betts "Nonnie" died on August 15, 2011 in Phoenix, AZ at age 92 after a long and courageous struggle with multiple illnesses. She was born on December 14, 1918 at Salina, Kansas to Lester Lloyd and Kathryn Combs Smith. After a brief residence at Baxter Springs, Kansas, she moved with her parents to Chanute, Kansas, where she lived until joining her family in their move to Glendale, Arizona in 1934. She enrolled with the junior class at Glendale Union High School that fall and there she met the love of her life, Max Betts, whom she married in 1940. Meanwhile, she had graduated from high school in 1936, attended Arizona State Teachers College at Tempe, now ASU, and served as secretary to the principal of the Glendale Elementary school. Her husband was stationed in the Army Air Corps at San Antonio, Texas during much of World War II, and Lucile joined him there. They returned to Arizona after Max was discharged and joined his father-in-law and brother-in-law in the management of L.L. Smith Hardware and Sporting Goods Store, which served Phoenix customers for some forty years. After Max died of a heart attack in 1972, Lucile continued to live in Phoenix until her death. Her grace and wit became her trademark. Chief among the many passions in her life were her family, her host of friends, world travel, the PEO sisterhood, and sports, especially the Diamondbacks, the Suns, and all ASU teams. Lucile was a bright, cheerful, loving little lady who lightened up a room whenever she entered it. She is survived by here son Larry and his wife Anne, daughters Cyndi Gosnell and Judi Ciliento and her husband Nick. She is also survived by her brother Dean and his wife Jean, and sisters-in-law Jean Smith and Norma Walsh. She was predeceased by her husband Max, her son Marty, and brother Don. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren Ryan Betts, Senta Collins, Robert Adams and his wife Jen, Griffin and Greer Gosnell, and Justin, Kyle and Niki Ciliento. In addition she also has four great-grandchildren, Seven Collins and Hunter, Ashlyn and Rylan Adams. A visitation will be held on Friday, August 19, 2011, between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00 PM. Services will be on Saturday morning, August 20, at 11:00 AM. Both will be held at A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary, 710 W Bethany Home Road, Phoenix. Burial will be at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, 2300 W Van Buren St, Phoenix on Monday, August 22, at 9:00 AM. This is a celebration of Lucille's life. Please wear your bright happy summer colors.