Betty Jean Thorn

Betty Jean Thorn, 88
Betty Jean McKenzie Pickels Thorn of Frostproof passed away Friday, May 6, 2022 at Good Shepherd Hospice House in Sebring, surrounded by loved ones.

Betty was born July 8, 1933 in Frostproof to the late William and Corene McKenzie, she was a lifelong Frostproof resident. She worked for Keen Fruit Corporation after graduating from high school until she left to begin her family. She was a retired shipping clerk for Hunt Brothers, Inc. and a landlord for 30 years. She was a former member of First Baptist Church of Frostproof and had expressed many times that she was ready to meet her Lord and savior. Betty loved to sew for her daughters and niece creating the most beautiful Easter dresses when they were children. Betty enjoyed playing games with family and friends, fishing, and to read. She loved to cook and always made a big fair of holiday meals. Betty had a good heart, loved people, and never met a stranger. She loved the rain. Betty was the one to draw up the designs for their lake house and loved her family over everything else. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Betty’s classmates in school deemed her mouth like a river because talking was something she did very well. She could tell you so many stories of her life experiences or those of other members of the family. She loved to laugh and possessed a rare talent to be able to find humor in almost anything. Betty could make you laugh until you felt like you wouldn’t be able to breath. One thing better than her ability to make you laugh was her own laughter. She had a laugh that you could hear throughout an entire building. You may not have known what she was laughing at, but her cackling laughter would at the very least bring a huge smile to your face.

Betty’s last hours were spent with family around her doing what we always do when we’re together; telling stories of her and each other, cracking jokes, and surrounding her with love and laughter. She wouldn’t have wanted that time to be any different than how it was.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Victor R. Thorn in January of 2018; sister, Doris Varnes; infant brother, William Matthew, Jr.; stepsons, Shane Ray Thorn, and Terry Dean Thorn. She is survived by her daughters, Paula Jean Black and husband Colby of Frostproof, and Betty Jane Parr of Lakeland; son, Lowell Edmund Pickels and wife Stacee of Apopka; grandchildren, Amanda, Kersey and wife Kat, Jasper, Mitchell, Casey and husband Justin, Cassandra and wife Cheyanne, Christina, and Stanley; great-grandchildren, Kenzlee, Addison, Olivia, Delaney, Anderson, Julianna, and Joseph; nieces and nephews, Roger and husband Joe Ivone-Varnes, Robert Varnes and wife Stephanie, Richard Varnes, Mary Susan Thornton and husband Wayne; and great-nephews, Matthew and wife Melissa, and Adam and wife Sarah.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, June 24, 2022 at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Frostproof.