Lois Elizabeth "Bette" McEachern

Lois Elizabeth "Bette" McEachern went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 7, 2014. She was 89. Born in Jesup, GA, Bette was the daughter of the late Albert Whitehurst and Lois Bowman. In 1948, she was married to Don R. McEachern, who preceded her in death in 2013. Don and Bette started married life in Jacksonville, Florida and lived for several years in Aiken, South Carolina. In 1964, they settled permanently in the Donelson community of Nashville, Tennessee. Bette loved three things above all others in her very long and active life. God, her family and flowers (followed closely by a good cup of coffee). A long-time member of the Donelson Presbyterian Church, Bette went on to become a founding member of Hickory Grove Church in Mt. Juliet, TN. Throughout that time she enjoyed studying the Bible and sharing what she learned. Bette was also a devoted wife, a loving mother, and a generous, affectionate "Grand mommy" and great-grandmother. She served her family quietly, thoughtfully and patiently every day in many ways large and small. Most importantly, she loved each and every family member – even the ones she adopted from her church and community – unconditionally. She will be greatly missed. Finally, Bette was a gifted horticulturalist. She was an accredited judge for the National Garden Clubs, Inc., served as president and member of several local garden clubs, and devoted many hours of volunteer service to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. Every spring her garden would bloom with over 200 varieties of daffodils and untold other varieties of flowers. As in all things, she was generous with her bulbs and roots and cuttings so that now, every spring in yards across the south, generations of Bette's flowers bloom on. Survivors include daughters Beverly Coffey, Barbara McLaughlin, Bonnie Lloyd, and son Don McEachern, Jr., as well as three sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, nine grandchildren, two great-grandsons and a great-granddaughter. A memorial service will be conducted at 6 PM on Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 at Hickory Grove Church, 84 S. Greenhill Rd., Mt Juliet, TN, 37122. Visitation with the family will be from 2 to 5 PM Wednesday at Hibbett & Hailey Funeral Home, 429 Donelson Pike, Nashville, TN 37214. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hickory Grove PCA, http://hickorygrovepca.org/.