Bettie Joyce Hale

Bettie Joyce (Coats) Hale, age 87, passed away in Lake Wales, Florida, on January 26, 2023. Bettie was born in Oklahoma, to Henry and Wanda Coats, and had an older brother, Jack. She grew up in and around Dearborn, Michigan, where she met the love of her life and best friend, Clayton (Deacon). They were married 67 years.

Clayton introduced her to biscuits ‘n gravy, which she mastered, and his home state of Virginia, where she spent countless summers and made many lifelong friends. She worked for Ford Motor Company before becoming a full-time mom to Kimberly (Edward Ramey) and Kelly (Stan Corcoran). Bettie, Clayton, and “the girls” moved to Florida in 1969, residing in Orlando until 1997, then settling in Lake Wales. Their house was the gathering place for many themed parties and get togethers. She attended Lake Wales Alliance Church.

She cherished her two grandsons and their wives, Nicholas & Raquel and Jonathan & Meghann Ramey, and her four great-grandchildren.

She was creative and loving, fun and giving, forgiving and kind.

To know her was to love her, and she was loved by many.  She will be sadly missed.

Her family is respecting her request to forgo a service. In lieu of flowers and to honor her joyful and giving spirit, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice or to her favorite, Backstreet Community Arts, backstreetart.org.