Bettye Nash

On the morning of November 28, 2020, the spirit of Bettye Irene Collins Nash slipped from her earthly body into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior at the age of 68. After battling complications of covid-19, she passed away at Intensive Specialty Hospital in Shreveport, LA, with family by her side. Bettye was the youngest child of 6, born in November 1952 to George and Willa Collins. She was raised in Powhatan, LA, and graduated from Natchitoches High School. She married Charlie Nash in April 1977 and they lived together in a home they built near Goldonna, LA. Bettye spent the majority of her lifetime dedicated to raising and loving her four children. She enjoyed spending time with her grandparents growing up, and then shared a special relationship with both her dad, 'DaddyGeorge' and her mom 'Mother' until they each went to Heaven to wait on her. Bettye enjoyed hunting and fishing with her family. She was very involved in 4-H as her children grew up. She was very talented in many things, including cooking and making flower arrangements. She also loved gardening and being outdoors. She loved dogs and raised many breeds throughout her life, but most recently had the best pets named 'Hoke' and 'Roe'. Bettye loved to travel and shop. She loved her shopping trips to Canton, going to garage sales, and online shopping. She was a master at finding deals, and found it fun to resale on online sites daily, and at Reruns in Shreveport twice a year. Bettye also had a blast on a recent cruise and was ready to plan more! She had a fascination with all things Alaska and would watch any television show pertaining to Alaska. She also collected many books, Bibles, and cookbooks. Bettye's family was her pride and joy. She always looked forward to time spent with her family at an annual crawfish boil in late spring and gathering again each Christmas Eve. She looked forward to pulling a prank on one of her kids each year. She enjoyed shopping so much for presents, that she would always tell her kids "I'm not buying gift cards, give me a list". She loved her children fiercely, loved her role as Meme, and looked forward to any chance to spend time with her kids and grandkids. She has left pure heart brokenness in those left behind, but we know she has been healed, fully restored, and united with our Lord, and those family members, and friends that passed before her. Bettye spent the past two decades being involved at Fairview Baptist Church. She truly had a servant's heart. She loved the Lord and thought it best to show her love and faith through cooking and outreach. Bettye found her spot at Fairview by serving in the kitchen with her husband Charlie, sister Lana, brother-in-law Jerry, and sister-in-law Peggy(George). She had a special calling to serve in the kitchen and loved to see the children's faces every Wednesday night for Kidslife/AWANA. She was also involved as a VBS director for a few years, but then settled in as a cook each year for VBS. Bettye served in many areas, but her heart was lead to serve wholeheartedly in Food Ministry, including serving meals on Wednesday nights and also for VBS. She also helped in the Casserole Ministry/outreach, and food pantry & Holiday food outreach for many years. She loved cooking, and made it a mission to find ways to help others in times of need. Throughout the years, many have served alongside Bettye and she truly considered that close-knit set of friends her very, very best friends-'her crew', "The Kitchen Crew". She was fondly called 'The Boss'. That crew shared more laughs than cooking tips, and she loved each one dearly that served alongside her. She always walked away from church full of joy, because of the laughter shared with some of the best friends she could have ever asked for! Bettye also enjoyed shopping and finding bargains at Goodwill, especially if she knew of a need. She called Goodwill "her therapy", and loved to find the excuse to go, but she really loved to buy clothing for those in need. She bought special little things throughout the year to contribute to Operation Christmas Child. Bettye also enjoyed serving on the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief District 8 team when needed. Bettye loved her Sunday School class and was dedicated to studying the lesson weekly, to always be prepared to have some input in that Sunday's lesson. She loved her classmates, and considered each one a blessing. While attending church at Fairview, many Pokeno groups were formed. She loved every second of that fellowship and food each month, she was always looking forward to the laughter. She claimed that she didn't win many prizes and wasn't very lucky, but when she did win, she did not hide her enthusiastic excitement. She loved and had many close friends in these groups. God sent some very special friends to her in her time of despair. They filled voids, kept her spirits up, reminded her of God's love, timing, and plans, and kept her busy, ready for the next adventure. They filled in where family could not. God also placed a very polite young gentleman, to be there for her, when she just couldn't do something herself. Bettye has always been a bit hardheaded and would try to be self-sufficient as much as possible. But when the time arose that she needed help, her neighbor Chris was always there, willing to do anything she asked, graciously. She and the rest of her family will be eternally grateful for his acts of kindness, and love shown to her. Bettye was preceded in death by her husband Charlie; her parents 'DaddyGeorge' and 'Mother'; brother Jolley Conrad Collins; sisters-in-law Diana, Peggy(Don), and Peggy(George); and her beloved dog Hoke. She will be thrilled to see them and the many friends that went before her! She is survived by many loved ones. She left behind four children and spouses, Nicole Dove and husband Micky; Jolley Nash and wife Jessica; Coree McKnight and husband Dustin; and Josh Nash and wife Katie. She also left behind nine grandkids: Melody Dove, Tabitha Dove, Gabriel McKnight, Chloe Nash, Gunner Nash, Hunter Dove, Teegan McKnight, Asa Nash, and Kyson McKnight; and one great-grandchild, Layken. She is also survived by her siblings: George Collins, Don Collins and wife Kim, Lana McWherter and husband Jerry, and Bryant Collins and wife Deneise... They will miss their baby sister, 'Bet'. She also leaves behind a special 'extra' daughter, Mary Guin. Bettye's dog Roe will mourn her absence too! She has a host of surviving friends, nephews, nieces, and cousins that she loved dearly. The family would like to express their appreciation to wonderful care for Bettye and kindness shown to both Bettye and Coree, by the excellent nurses, doctors and everyone behind the scenes, while Bettye was in NRMC ICU. We know that God always has a plan for each of us, and no matter how hard she or her caregivers fought, God wanted Bettye to be with Him. We all look forward to being reunited with her again soon. Graveside service will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 2 p.m. at Fairview Baptist cemetery near Coushatta, LA. Bro Matt Endris and Bro J Cardinell will be leading the service, recalling her life and service to the Lord. Pallbearers will include Rayburn Covington, Gabriel McKnight, Kyson McKnight, Teegan McKnight, Enyart Mitchell, Asa Nash, Gunner Nash, Roger Ross, and Chris Stewart. Honorary pallbearers are Bo Bohannon, Donnie Cox, Hunter Dove, and Billy Garland. The family would like to request in lieu of flower arrangements, that donations be made to the Natchitoches 4-H Shooting Sports Club. Bettye loved hunting, shooting, gun safety, and 4-H. Her Legacy will live on through Shooting Sports for many years to come. Donations can be made out to 'Natchitoches 4-H Foundation' in memory of Bettye Nash, and mailed or dropped off at 624 2nd Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457. She always wanted to leave each person with a smile, so her life was a living example of the verse in Ephesians 4:32 "And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ". The graveside service will be live-streamed on the Fairview Baptist Church Facebook page, YouTube Page, and their website, www.myfairviewbaptist.org/live.