Betty Jo Mathieson

Betty Jo (Eastis) Mathieson was born September 11, 1923, in Abilene, Texas to Robert and Ethel (McDonald) Eastis, and was the second of five girls, Billy Jean Tear (Roy), Maxine Hanks (Horaace), Carol Lloyd Wilkerson (Paul) and Bobby Sue Chapman (Harold) born to the couple.

Betty graduated from high school in 1941 and worked at a local department store until she joined the Army in 1943. After basic training in Georgia, she was assigned to Supply at Muroc Army Air Field (under the jurisdiction of the Fourth Air Force. Their primary mission was final combat training for bomber and fighter aircrews just before deployment.) While there, Betty met the love of her life, Charles Bennett Mathieson, “Chuck.” He was an officer, and she was enlisted—in fact, he was her boss—but that did not stop them from seeing each other.

After the war, they were married in Seminole, Oklahoma and settled in Kingsport, Tennessee, where Chuck’s brother lived. They had one daughter, Irene, born in 1947. Betty lived in Kingsport until she moved to Bellevue, Nebraska in 2017 to be closer to family.

Betty worked with Chuck in their shoe businesses located in Kingsport, Johnson City, Bristol and Greenville in the Nettie Lee Shops until they retired. During that time, she was involved at First Broadstreet United Methodist Church serving as a Sunday School teacher, Circle leader, and cooking and serving every Saturday for a free breakfast the church offered those in need. She was also active at The Stephens Center. Betty was a member of Altrusa International club and was elected as Governor of District 4, which encompasses several states around Tennessee. When Betty moved to Nebraska, she joined the local Altrusa Club there, remaining a loyal member for the rest of her life. She also became a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Papillion where she attended Sunday School and Church.

During the first years that she lived in Bellevue, she especially enjoyed family get-togethers, birthday celebrations, and going to basketball and baseball games her great-grandchildren participated in. Highlights during that same time were family trips to Cancun, Mexico and Gulf Shores, Alabama. Spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought so much joy into her life.

Betty was preceded in death by both parents, her husband, her sisters and brothers-in law.

She is survived by her daughter, Irene (David) Wolfe of Bellevue, NE; granddaughter Debbie (Todd) Cooper of Omaha, NE; grandson, Brian (Laura) Wolfe of Denver Colorado; great-grandchildren, Jack Cooper, Will Cooper, Sam Cooper, Isabella Wolfe and Sloan Wolfe.

Betty’s life was celebrated in Papillion, NE on August 11, 2024, A burial service will be held at the East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Kingsport on Thursday, June 5, at 10 am at the Mausoleum.