Betty Sue (Hill) Counts was born on October 27, 1957, in Patterson, Missouri, to James Clayton and Dorothy Jane (Wilcox) Hill. She passed away on August 17, 2024, at Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital, Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
Betty was raised in the log woods with her dad and siblings. She had very little schooling but was a very intelligent person. At the age of 13 years, she met her first true love, Harvey Counts, through her sister, Brenda K. Counts, and Harvey’s brother, Thomas Monroe. They were married in 1970 in Winona, Missouri, and to this union, four children were born, Barbara Sue, Harvey James, Charlie Lee, and Joshuah Dale Counts. Sadly little Charlie Lee departed this life as an infant.
Betty led a full life raising her kids and probably 30 percent of the kids around the Winona area. They all knew her as “Momma Betty.” She loved God dearly and went to church often. She loved it when her sister, Sarah, came for a visit because they would stay up all day and night talking about God and heaven until the early hours of the next morning.
Betty worked as a laborer at a local factory for a few years and then helped stack lumber and slabs at a sawmill down by Peck Ranch. Later, she worked as a CNA (nurse aide) at Birch Tree Manor in Birch Tree, Missouri, until she became disabled in 1995. Betty was then a stay-at-home mom.
She was always ready to help in any way she could. Betty went to stay with her best friend, Nancy Larson, until her passing. She will forever be missed by all who knew and loved her. She was truly one of a kind.
Betty leaves behind her two sons, Harvey J. Counts and Arionna Bates of Winona, MO, and Joshuah Counts and Jr Counts of Poplar Bluff, MO; her siblings, Larry (Brenda) Hill of Greenville, Kathy David of Piedmont, MO, Sarah Crowley of Poplar Bluff, Brenda (Thomas Monroe) Counts of Winona, Rosemary Armstrong of Kansas City, KS, Ellen (Rick) Lane of Kansas City; Russell Howard Nash Jr. (Dieana) and great-grandchildren all of Alton, MO; Dustin (Smoki) Nash and grandchildren all of Winona; Wyntre Nash and grandchildren all of Memphis, TN; Mondelynn Counts and Jeramiah Counts both of Poplar Bluff; and several nieces and nephews.
She enjoyed spending time with her family, friends, and especially the grandbabies, who stole her heart. Betty loved watching her “Monkeys” on Animal Planet while enjoying a strawberry shake and a cigarette, and playing Yahtzee.
Betty spent the last 19 years with Ralph “Robert” Effler. They enjoyed hunting, fishing, and backroading until their health no longer permitted it so much. So until we meet again, we will all love and miss you dearly, Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Sister, and Friend.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at Yarber Mortuary, Winona, Missouri, with Rodney Fisher officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9-10:00 a.m. also at the funeral home. Interment will be in Bethany Chapel Cemetery, Eminence, Missouri. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com
