Morgan, Betty Gatling

Mrs. Betty Rose Gatling Morgan, 79, of Willis, VA passed away peacefully November 21, 2016 after a long illness. She was born November 27, 1936 in Rocky Mount, NC to the late Quinton Gatling and Marie Allen Gatling.

Betty spent most her childhood in Rocky Mount, NC, Hampton, VA, and Wilmington, NC, where she married, then raised her family in Greensboro, NC and Hollywood, FL. Settling in the beautiful mountains of Floyd County, VA, she and her husband were able to split their time between Virginia and Florida.

Betty was a faithful wife, loving mother, and beautiful friend to all who knew her. She was the family historian with an amazing memory for detail, and spent many years documenting family history. Betty loved books, especially history and inspirational stories, cooking and collecting recipes, traveling with her family, dachshunds, and had the gift of remembering friends and family with thoughtful handwritten letters. Betty’s sweetness and sense of humor will be deeply missed, and she was a blessing to all.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Danny Gatling, Curtis Gatling, and Linda Bizzell, as well as her surrogate parents, her aunt and uncle, Helen and Alan Smith, who raised her after her mother’s death.

Those surviving are her husband of nearly 60 years, Howard Morgan, her daughters Lisa Morgan, of Winston-Salem, NC, Susan Morgan Washinsky and husband John, of Clemmons, NC, and her grandchildren, Michael Washinsky, Joseph and Carly Morgan-Whitlock, her cousin Jimmy Smith & wife Charlotte, as well as her sisters and brother in law, Phyllis Morgan, Lois Morgan, Shirley and Robert Morgan, and extended family.

Special gratitude goes to Betty’s angels, Jan Parker and Pat Ingram, who spent many lovely hours as her companions. Many thanks also go to the staff at Commonwealth Assisted Living and Caris Hospice in Abingdon, VA, and many kind friends.

Visitation will begin on Friday, November 25, 2016 1pm, and the funeral Service will be held 2pm, both at Gardner Funeral Home, 202 East Oxford Street, Floyd, VA. Burial will be on the family property, 554 Emmanuel Road, Willis, VA.