Bette Lou (Fike) Ford, 99½, of Pittsboro, NC, passed away peacefully at the State
Employees Credit Union (SECU) Jim and Betsy Bryan Hospice Home of UNC Health Care
on June 27th, 2024.

Bette was born in Schell, WV, to James Quinten Fike and Ruby Francelia (Dove) Fike. Bette was raised in Morgantown, WV along with her three sisters. In her teen years, Bette and her sisters (with several friends) performed locally and on the radio as Dixie, Jeannie and the Western Saddle Pals. They sang and played country and traditional music with their specialty being their 4-part harmonies.

In 1947, Bette married Harold L. Ford, a student at WVU who rented a room in the Fike home. Upon Harold’s graduation, they moved to Johnstown, PA where they spent their entire married life. In 1956, they welcomed their only child, Susan. After Harold’s passing, Bette moved to Pittsboro, NC in 2004, to be near her daughter and son-in-law.

Soon after her arrival in NC, she joined the Evergreen United Methodist Church where the members became her second family. She volunteered at the PTA Thrift Shop and participated in water aerobics three times/week at the Duke Center for Living at Galloway Ridge (until COVID). She met many friends who she cherished at both locations.

Bette enjoyed nature, birdwatching (with a special fondness for hummingbirds), flower gardening, sewing, animals, the NC mountains, music, and jigsaw puzzles. She loved her birthday (month) insisting on celebrating all 31 days – and expecting a gift for each day (of
course).

She was planning her 100th birthday just days before her passing. Bette had a passion for life – living it with such enthusiasm, grace, a sense of humor, and a deep appreciation for the “little things” (“did you ever just take the time to sit and watch a flower open”). Bette often shared her fondness for ice cream, letting everyone she knew to be sure to eat ice cream at 4:00 every day (it worked for her – you might try it).

Bette lived with Susan and Larry for the past two years until the day before her passing. They were deeply honored and blessed to provide her with love, care, assistance, and comfort in her final years. The family would like to thank UNC Hospice for their compassionate care of Bette during her last months.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Harold, Bette was preceded in death by her sisters Dorothy Stump, Eloise Stankos, and Patricia Tolley (Dixie, Jeannie and the Western Saddle Pals are harmonizing once again).

Bette is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Larry Hicks of Pittsboro, NC. She is especially missed by Bailey, her grand dog and Autumn and Ali, her grand cats. Bette will be remembered fondly for her good nature and kindness by all who met her, and she will be remembered with so much love.

A celebration of her life will be held on Tuesday, July 9th, at 11 am at Evergreen United
Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, NC.