Bettye Pate

Bettye Sue Turner Pate died on September 4, 2025 of complications from pancreatic cancer. Bettye was born on September 22, 1934 as the youngest child of Willam “Bill” and Addie Mae Causey Turner. She graduated from Quitman High School, LA Tech, and Northwestern. Her professional career was spent teaching home economics for 32 years at Weston HS where she loved involving her “pussycats” in FHA activities. After she retired from teaching, she moved to the Jackson Parish School Board office and for 7 years served as supervisor of food services. Bettye put her heart and soul into the Jackson Parish community. She was the first woman to serve as president of the Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce. She was honored to be named the Chamber’s “Person of the Year”. In 2007 she was named Grand Marshall of the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Bettye was an active member of the Jonesboro Garden Club, the Jackson Parish Museum, the Brooks Chapel Cemetery Board, and the VFW Auxiliary. For many years she was a faithful, loyal and active member of the Jonesboro Methodist Church.

In 2023 Bettye established two endowed scholarships in the Applied and Natural Science program at LA Tech, donated money to Quitman HS for bleachers for the track field, and donated a veteran’s memorial monument that was placed in the Brooks Chapel Cemetery. For the years 2005-2019 and 2023-2025 she was the principal organizer of a benefit event that attracted card players from throughout the region and raised money for the local VFW and for the Jackson Parish Museum.

Bettye married the love of her life, Aylon Thomas Pate, in 1976 and for many of the following 46 years they enjoyed catfishing on Black Lake, eating out on Saturday night, slow dancing to country music, watching soap operas after midnight, and visiting with family and friends. Bettye was always ready for a game of cards (Rook, bridge, Aces to Kings) and enjoyed rooting for the LSU Lady Tigers and the Dodgers.

Bettye is preceded in death by her husband, Aylon, her parents, her brothers Claudie, J.P. (Margie), Billy (Ruth), Rhode (Winnie) and sisters Jodie Turner and Minnie Neeles (Lloyd) and step-daughter Rhonda Hayden. She is survived by sister Addie Lynde, stepdaughter Lisa Wursteisen (Michael), step-son-in-law Bobby Hayden, step-grandchildren Jacob, Payton, and Allie Wursteisen, Candice, Cory and Chad Johnston, a host of nieces and nephews, sister-in-law Evelyn Burson, friends, Kathy Tolar, Donna Frink, Michelle and Thomas Lay and Vickie Williams who was not only a special friend but a companion, confidante, and helper for many years. Thanks to Debbie Stewart, Nancy Upshaw, Polly Landers, Yolanda Mayfield and Vickie Williams for the loving care they provided Bettye at the end of her life.

Pallbearers were Chris Love, Payton and Jacob Wursteisen, Terry Williams, Phillip Walker, Ronnie “Cowboy” Huckaby, Mitch Maxwell, and Eric Futrell. Honorary pallbearers were Charles Neeles, Mike and Steve Turner, Bobby Hayden, Ronnie Caples, Will Neeles, Mike Brown, Steve Matlock, James Leonard, Tonnie Lee, and Lowell F. Lynde, Jr. Visitation was held at the Jonesboro Methodist Church on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 from 9 to 11 A.M. with the funeral service officiated by Rev. Gary Green starting immediately after visitation. Burial was at the Brooks Chapel Cemetery in Quitman. Rather than flowers, it is requested that memorials to Bettye be made to the Brooks Chapel Cemetery Fund and sent to James Mobley, 707 Brooks Chapel RD, Quitman, LA 71268.