Betty J. Arnold

The world lost a funny, talented and creative woman on November 5th. Betty Jo Kelly Arnold died in her sleep on Wednesday, after spending the morning listening to Glenn Miller and Cab Calloway. She is survived by a gang of ragamuffins that loved her dearly, Roy T. Arnold, Belvia Arnold Ferguson, Suzy Arnold Nicks, Clara Lee Arnold, and a plethora of grandchildren and great grandchildren. In a joint effort, the family has decided to write the obituary, listing things she loved and things she didn’t. Betty/Mom/Granny loved Goodwill shopping with Jean Brammer, her brother, Buddy Kelly, and her sister, Helen Braswell. She loved Subway sandwiches, eating at Chilis, and coffee. She loved Boston baked beans, gizzards, collard greens and peanuts in an RC cola. She loved mystery novels and Betty Boop. In her younger days, she was a painter, a potter, a photographer, and seamstress, loving color and creativity. She played tennis with friends for hours. She loved cameos, and earrings, and owned many jewelry boxes. She loved teaching, and paved the way for girls to wear pants at the Oxford Elementary School in the 1960s. She loved Mark Harmon (a lot) and NCIS. She loved her children having an insurance card and health care, and Jeopardy. Her liberal posts and political arguments on Facebook will be missed by many, but not everyone. She disliked meteor showers. And McCarty pottery. And the “damn tea party.” She didn’t like documentaries, Fox News or Sean Hannity. But she loved Shepherd Smith. And she hated snakes. Oh my, did she hate snakes. She loved track suits, and all kinds of shoes. She loved Mark McGwire, Isaiah Thomas and Peyton Manning. She was a Steel Magnolia, a Golden Girl and an Ole Miss Rebel. She was a Yellow Dog Democrat until the end, some of her last words being, “The Republicans have me just where they want me.” She requested no services, and that her ashes be kept in an old Folgers coffee can. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to Boys & Girls Club of Oxford, or Camellia Hospice. Or you can buy your kids an ice cream sandwich. The family will celebrate her every time anyone eats spaghetti and meatballs, or falls asleep when someone is talking too much. We will miss you, Betty. Pickles. Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford was in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall of this website.

Betty J. Arnold

November 5, 2014

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