Bettie Chester

Bettie Martin Thomas Chester passed away on January 29th, 2024, at the age of 95. She was predeceased by her husband, Samuel Hall Chester III (aka Jr.) (Signal Mountain); parents, Spencer Martin Thomas and Elizabeth Curd Weaver Thomas (St. Louis, Missouri); and sisters, Mary Toy Thomas Kircher (Springfield, Missouri) and Pattie Howell Thomas Snyder (Vero Beach, Florida). 

Born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 3rd, 1928, she graduated from Mary Institute, attended Randolph Macon Women's College and graduated from Vanderbilt University, where she majored in history, was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, and met her husband, Sam. She spent summers, beginning in childhood, at Beersheba Springs, Tennessee, enjoying the beauties of nature, recreation, and especially a large extended family who also summered there and who were very important to her. She loved spending time in her second home there.

 Bettie had several careers, first as a loved and respected third grade teacher in three Signal Mountain elementary schools. Then she became a real estate agent with Huffaker Realty, later Crye-Leike Realty, where she received many awards for her successes. 

A willing and capable volunteer, Bettie was a member of the Junior League of Chattanooga and the Junior League Garden Club. Favorite hobbies were tennis at Manker Patten Tennis Center, knitting fabulous personalized Christmas stockings, canoeing, hiking, travel, reading, working crossword puzzles, and especially gardening and maintaining her beloved Crossroads home and acreage. She could identify most birds, wildflowers, trees and plants she encountered while hiking. She was loved and cherished by her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren and had many friends of all ages. She and Sam were longtime members of First Presbyterian Church Chattanooga. 

Bettie's greatest hobby was history and genealogy. A member of the Colonial Dames, she could always be counted on to tell a fascinating family historical story or assist with ideas for school reports. She was proud of her roots and loved to share them with her offspring in a positive way. She was a past president of the Beersheba Springs Historical Society and was active in the Walden's Ridge Historical Association, helping with the restoration of the historic Connor Toll House and the transition of the Bachman/McCoy family home to the lovely public space it now is. Though never an elected official, she was influential in the formation of and development of the Town of Walden and actively participated in town meetings for years.

 Bettie is survived by daughters Susan Snow (Thomas), Signal Mountain; Caroline Chester (Nigel Lloyd), Nashville; and Betsy Chester, Signal Mountain; grandchildren Samuel Chester Snow (Lisa), Signal Mountain; Andrew Wasson Snow, Signal Mountain; Elizabeth Snow Caldwell (Marc), Knoxville; Caroline Snow Coates (Brandon) Traveler's Rest, South Carolina; George Spencer Lloyd, Nashville; Isabel Guhde Geva (Jonathan), Greenville, South Carolina; Rebecca Preston Guhde, Signal Mountain; and nine great-grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 10th, 2024, at 11 A.M., at First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, with visitation beginning at 10 A.M. A private family burial will follow at Chattanooga Memorial Park. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to First Presbyterian Church, 554 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402, or Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic, P.O. Box 112, Beersheba Springs, Tennessee 37305.