Betty Thomas Obituary

Betty Jean Bare Thomas

December 22, 1934 -

March 6, 2026

BLUFF CITY - Betty Jean Bare Thomas, age 91, of Bluff City, Tenn., went home to be with the Lord on the 6th of March 2026.

Betty Jean Bare Thomas was born on December 22, 1934 in Watauga, Tennessee to Blanche Vandeventer and Roby Bare. She was the seventh of fourteen children, including: her sisters, Virginia McCloud, Sue Harkleroad, Ruth "Bootsie" Humphrey, Roxie Williams, and Loise Dishner; her brothers, Paul Bare, Lawrence Bare, George Bare, Dean Bare, William Bare, Luther "Buster" Bare, Jack Bare, and Bobby Bare. All siblings have preceded Betty in death, except for her sister, Sue Harkleorad.

Betty's early years were spent in Carter County, Tennessee. She attended Rock Hill Christian Church with her family and received her education at Rock Hill Elementary, Keenburg Middle School, and Elizabethton High School. As a teenager, Betty's first job was at Ridgewood Barbeque as a dishwasher and potato peeler. It was there that she met her first husband, Freelyn Massengill. They were married in 1950 at Borderview Christian Church in Elizabethton, TN. Early in their marriage they moved to Baltimore Maryland where Freelyn was a manager at Glen L Martin Aircraft Company. After a short time being an index file clerk at Montgomery Ward, Betty joined her husband at the Aircraft Company, working as a fabricator in the mechanical assembly to build rib sections for fighter planes.

In 1953, the couple returned to Bristol, Tennessee where they enjoyed careers at Sperry Farragut. Betty's job included building gyros that went in missiles to help them fly. On December 20, 1953, Freelyn and Betty both made Jesus the Lord of their lives and were baptized and joined the fellowship at Borderview Christian Church. In 1955, after only six years of marriage, Freelyn died suddenly from a brain aneurysm, leaving Betty a widow at only 22 years of age. Betty continued to live in Bristol and work at Sperry Farragut while thinking her life would never be the same.

Along the same time, Forrest Thomas from Bluff City had lost his wife to cancer. At the right time, Forrest pursued Betty and after much heartache of loss in each of their lives they rejoiced in being married in June of 1959. They were happily married for 42 years. Betty and Forrest had one daughter, Gail Rene Thomas, born in June of 1960.

In 1965, Betty began working alongside her husband Forrest at Thomas Hardware Store, which Forrest began in 1945. Except for being a substitute teacher in Bluff City Elementary while Gail attended there, she faithfully learned and grew a great love for the hardware business. Betty continued to work in the store for over fifty years. Even when she was in her 80's her great joy was being in Thomas Hardware serving the community of Bluff City. Many have said she knew where anything was in that store and amazingly could go right to it.Even in her early years in the nursing home she would often say how she needed to get back to the store.

Betty was a member of First Baptist Church of Bluff City for over 65 years. She served in the nursery, preschool and teen classrooms, taught as an assistant Sunday School Teacher for Ladie's Classes, and participated in the church choir over the years. Her church family was an integral part of her life.

Betty was an active community member of Bluff City, participating in the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Eastern Star #414, and Friends of Thomas Memorial Library. Betty was a 7th generation descendant of Henry Massengill and Mary Cobb of Rocky Mount; thus Betty was a proud member of Rocky Mount and served a few years on the Board of Directors. Betty was honored by the Bluff City Ruritan Club on October 9, 2016, designating that day as "Betty Thomas Day" because of all she had done to help volunteer groups, churches, and other in the Bluff City community. There was not a doubt she loved her town of Bluff City and was known by many.

In the last four years, Betty found a "home away from home" at NHC in Johnson City where she was cared for by a wonderful team of nurses and CNAs. The care given to her was superb and she grew to love those at NHC as they as well loved her.

Betty is survived by her only child, Gail Thomas, and her granddaughters, Faith Morelock (husband, Cameron) and Grace Hampton (husband, Thomas); her sister, Sue Harkleroad; sister-in-law, Shirley Thomas; several brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

A service to honor the life of Betty Thomas will be held at Bluff City First Baptist Church on Sunday, March 8th, 2026. Visitation will begin at 2:00 PM with funeral service following at 3:00 PM. Pastor Mike Pope will be officiating. Music will be provided by granddaughter, Grace Hampton; First Baptist Church Worship Pastor, Todd Austin; and organist, Jennifer Sharp. A graveside service will immediately follow at Morning View Cemetery of Bluff City.

Active pallbearers will be Cameron Morelock, Thomas Hampton, Bruce Harkleroad, Austin Harkleroad, Jeff Cross, and Steve Williams.

In lieu of flowers or plants, a memorial contribution to a Bluff City church or organization of your choice is encouraged. The family would love to know about any memorial gifts given to churches or organizations through PO Box 296, Bluff City.