Funeral Services Set For Bette Jo Smith, Retired Council Rock Teacher

NEWTOWN, PA — Bette Jo Smith closed her eyes to this life and was welcomed home by her Heavenly Father on August 15, 2024. He had been preparing a place for her for some time and when it was completed and her purpose for this life was accomplished, she left us, going ahead to experience and enjoy the eternal life promised to her in the Bible by Jesus. She was 69 years old.

Bette was born in 1955 in Hollywood, Florida. She attended South Broward High School. Upon graduation she received her undergraduate degree from Florida Bible College. She later attended Temple University where she received her Master’s in Education.

She was an elementary teacher in the Council Rock School District, teaching 1st, 3rd and 5th grade. She loved children, even the ornery ones. It was during her years as a teacher that her husband, Tim, gave her the nickname of "The Velvet Hammer" due to her ability to tell parents how difficult their child was and do it so nicely that parents thanked her for the feedback.

She loved teaching. She strived to create a learning environment that would be fun and exciting. Her influence wasn't just in the classroom. Each year she invited every student to her home for an "Unbirthday Party" so she could celebrate all their birthdays at once. She even invited her whole class to her wedding complete with a quick private reception for them and their parents that included wedding cake and cake-smooshing with her new husband. With many tears, she retired in 1997 after 18 years of teaching when they adopted their first son, Grant.

More recently, she was a tutor for Classical Conversations, where she loved the integration of biblical values with subjects such as Latin, debate and logic.

Bette met her future husband in 1985 at Crossing Community Church in Newtown where they both served in youth ministry. They were married in 1989 and have lived in the same house ever since they said, "I Do." They have two sons, both adopted, Grant, 27 years old and Owen who is 24.

Bette didn't have hobbies. She had two sons and a husband. She was an unrelenting champion of her sons. Whatever the challenge, she tackled each one with vigor and zeal to create opportunities and success for her boys.

While she was not the wife of a pastor all the years of their marriage, she was the perfect "pastor's wife" for the last 18 years never resenting the demands of Tim's job, instead encouraging him to never slack off and do what had to be done to love the people of his congregation. In addition to caring for and loving her three men, she also had the joy and pleasure of becoming "mom" to Jessica Moxley Seith, a former first grade student who would later live with her and Tim and become the daughter they never had.

Bette was fun and smiling and joyful. Early in life she was known for the "Bette Jo Show" in her home. Whether it was a "cornday celebration" for 125 people in her backyard, a quaint Valentine's dinner for six complete with poetry readings, live music and candlelight dinner or a cheese board under the stars for two for her and Tim, she made things fun and special. Hospitality was one of her many gifts and there was always more room at the table.

Her love for Jesus translated into a love for people. She wanted them to know Christ and to grow in their spiritual life. The result of that was over 50 years of all kinds of ministry. She poured herself into mentoring young women, leading music for small group bible studies and women's conferences, coordinating VBS programs that hundreds of children attended, leading the children's ministry at her church, directing plays and character brunches, training teachers, leading Bible Studies, leading summer camps and being a "camp mom" for summer day camp.

She most recently served on the board of Bux/Mont Child Evangelism Fellowship. She also was elected to be a precinct committeewoman, where she knocked on doors to engage people on the issues at hand and even turned that into opportunities to serve people and made new friends along the way.

She is survived by her husband, Tim Smith; two sons, Grant and Owen, both of Newtown; a daughter, Jessica Seith (John) of Chalfont; two sisters, Donna Berkowitz (Gary) of Elkins Park and Mary Ann Thomas (Shawn) of Daytona Beach, Fla.; two grandchildren, 12 nieces and nephews and one grandnephew.

A memorial service will be hosted on Saturday, August 24 at Crossing Community Church, 80 Lower Silver Lake Road, Newtown 18940. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 with the memorial service from 11:00 to 12:30. A reception will follow at Grace Point Church, 592 Washington Crossing Road, Newtown 18940. For more information, call Crossing Community Church at 215-968-0276.

Instead of flowers that fade, invest in the hearts of children by donating to Bux/Mont CEF at www.bucksmontcef.com/supportandpray/.