Betty Jean Lightner

1934 - 2025

Betty Jean (Barrett) Lightner, 90, of Smicksburg (West Mahoning Township), passed away on Feb. 3, 2025 at her daughter's residence.
Betty's life began in the same house she lived in West Mahoning Township, Indiana County, where she was born on March 29, 1934, to the late Weston H. and Larue O. (Brice) Barrett. Betty graduated from Dayton High School in 1952. While attending Dayton High School, Betty was in the band, where the parades and concerts were a highlight of her life. On March 19, 1955, Betty Jean married the love of her life, Vernon K. Lightner, with whom she shared almost 70 years of marriage and six children.
Betty was an assistant manager of the Dayton Bank and secretary for the Board of Directors of West Mahoning Township until the school merged with Armstrong School District. She served 32 years as tax collector, retiring in 1997 to devote herself wholly to her family as a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
She was an active member and deacon of the Dayton Glade Run Presbyterian Church, the church Women's Association and the Dayton Senior Center. She also managed the Dayton Fair Book for eight years during the time when Vernon was the Fair Manager in the early 1970s. Betty Jean often shared her talents on the computer with her friends at church and the senior center. Her kind, gentle and creative nature was often expressed with the special cards she made on her computer for everyone.
Betty Jean especially enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was very patriotic and liked gospel and country music. Her generosity, selflessness and unflagging support will be missed. Her love, expressed in words and in time, will be irreplaceable.
Betty is survived by her husband Vernon; two sons, Kenneth (Melissa) Lightner of Smicksburg and Daniel (Mandy Myers) Lightner of Wharton, New Jersey; two daughters, Sandra Mills and Barbara Lightner, both of Smicksburg; three grandsons, Eric (Kayla) Rummell, Brandon (Shannon) Lightner, and Justin Mills; three granddaughters, Laura (Joey) Skamai, Megan (Stewart) McEntire, and Kayla Lightner; three great-grandchildren, Lucas, Ellie and Levi Skamai; brother Harold W. Barrett of Smicksburg; son-in-law Joseph Dalessio of Rochester Mills; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son Roger Dale Lightner; daughter Janice Marlene Lightner (Dalessio) Wagner; granddaughter Michelle Lee Dalessio; and sons-in-law Harry Mills and Jeff Wagner.
Family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at the Dayton Glade Run Presbyterian Church, 2540 Dayton Smicksburg Road, Dayton. Additional visitation will be held from 10 until the time of service at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Church with Pastor Sheila Wadding officiating.
Burial will take place in the Dayton Glade Run Presbyterian Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be sent to Dayton Glade Run Presbyterian Church, 2540 Dayton Smicksburg Road, Dayton, PA 16222.
The family sends a special thank-you to Monarch Hospice for her care, especially to Tara and Erica.