Betty Lou (Harrison) Smith

Betty Lou (Harrison) Smith, age 94 died peacefully on April 2, 2025 after a long, beautiful life, which ended with an extensive season of dementia.

Betty was born on June 17, 1931 to Melvin and Viola Mae Harrison in Newport News, Virginia. She grew up strongly connected to her siblings: Norma, Bill, and Richard, who all preceded her in death.

Alongside her beloved spouse, Henry (d. 2011), Betty was the mother of Jeffrey (Kathy) and Jill Tulk (Harry); grandmother of Emily Asire (Joe), Allen Smith (Charis), Alison Ives (Al), Joanna D’Agostino (Maic), and Henry Mitchell Tulk (Samantha).

Betty worked at Baldwin-Wallace College, most notably at the candy counter in the Student Union. Together, Betty and Henry traveled throughout the United States in their RV, often with their cats. She loved her cats, her neighbors, and her friends, but nothing surpassed how proud she was of her family.

The legacy of Betty and Henry is continued in the world daily through their 10 great-grandchildren: Cadence and Keegan; Xavior and Harrison; Lucas; Evelyn, Amos, and Suzette; and Henry and Charlotte. Betty is also survived by niece and nephews, neighbors, and friends.

Since 2020, she has become family to the staff and residents of her skilled nursing community (now named Hopkins Rehabilitation and Care Center) and Cypress Hospice. Betty’s family is sincerely grateful to all the people there who loved and cared for her.

A Celebration of Life will take place May 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM at Lakewood Congregational Church in Lakewood, Ohio.

The family requests donations to Berea Animal Rescue Fund, P.O. Box 544, Berea, 44017.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Betty Lou (Harrison) Smith, please visit our floral store.