Nell Betts

Rose Nell Raburn BettsNell passed away on  August 23, 2016 at the home of her daughter in Camden, TN. Nell was born on January 23, 1915 in Itawamba County, MS. She moved with her family about 1918 to the Providence Community in Madison County, TN. Nell was number 8 of 10 children born to Frank and Beulah Wilson Raburn and at age 101 plus 7 month, is the last survivor of that family. Nell was preceded in death by her parents and sisters: Reba Baggett, Era Haynes, and Sue Starr, brothers: Opal, Onis, Orel, Orville, Omer Frank, and Olis Tom Raburn. Nell married James Carl Betts on June 23, 1934 in Haywood County, TN. Carl preceded her in death in December of 1994.Nell and Carl moved to Memphis, TN about 1940. When WWII started, she went to work for Fisher Memphis Aircraft. They sent her to night school to learn to use a drill, a rivet gun and a bucking bar. She was one of the original "Rosie the Riveters". She helped build parts for B-17s and B-29 Bombers. She was so small that they would sometime put her in the tail of the plane to buck the rivets. She went to work at Firestone Tire and Rubber after Fisher Aircraft closed. She helped build rubber life rafts. When the war ended, she transferred to the cafeteria at Firestone because she was too small for the other jobs. She worked there for about 15 years. Nell and Carl moved to West Memphis, Arkansas in September of 1964. Nell worked in Memphis for an Interior Decorator for several years where she learned to make draperies and bedspreads. Nell and Carl retired in 1977 and moved to Camden, TN to be near their daughter and family. Nell was an active at Cowell's Chapel United Methodist Church in Camden where she was a member for many years. She really missed her Church Family when her health prevented her from attending.Nell is survived by her daughter, Billie Carlene Betts Waltshire and husband, Homer Wiltshire. Four grandchildren: Drew Wiltshire of Nashville, TN, Gerald Wiltshire (Tammy) of Jackson, TN, Andrea Wiltshire Greer (Dwayne) of Camden, and Eddie Wiltshire (Sissie) of Cottage Grove, TN. Five Great Grandchildren: Eric Haldeman of Havre, MT, Amy Haldeman Basham (David) of Charleston, SC, Bethany Wilshire Luckey (Grant) of Humbolt, TN, Missy Dunlap Moody (Rick) and Kelly Bolden Andrews (Greg) all of Paris, TN. Six Great-Great Granchildren: Lucy Nell Luckey, Madison Moody Allen (Jerrod), Makenzie Moody, Gavin Moody, Brittan Andrews, and Kane Andrews. Nell leaves many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 11:00 am at the Oakdale Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be before the service at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at 2:00 pm at Holly Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, located at the corner of Dr. Hess Rd and Poplar Corner Rd. in Haywood County, TN. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials to be sent to Cowell's Chapel United Methodist Church, 1681 Natchez Trace Rd., Camden, TN 38320.