Betty L. Narmore

Betty Narmore crossed over the Jordan to her heavenly home on August 25, 2022, after a short and courageous battle with cancer. Upon learning of this life stealing diagnosis on May 23, 2022, her reaction was to say “It’s okay. I’m gonna see Jesus soon.” Her faith in Christ is her testament of her time on this earth.

She was born on July 24, 1940, to Ora and Herbert Campbell in a small rural community in Colbert County, Alabama called Lane Springs. Mama was the youngest of three kids born to Ora and Herbert Campbell. Their life lacked all the luxuries others had but did not lack in love.

Betty graduated high school in 1958. While she was still in high school, her father died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Following his death, she put her college dreams on hold and worked to support her mother. It was at her job at the USS Agri-Chemical plant in Cherokee that she met her husband of 60 years, Neal. They welcomed two daughters into their family.

Her first and foremost love in life was Christ Jesus. She served church faithfully by attendance, Vacation Bible Schools’, and teaching Sunday School classes to all ages over the years. Sunday was the Lord’s Day and a day of rest. Her faithfulness and relationship with Christ spilled over to her family who learned to share her love of Jesus.

Oh, how she loved snow and loved to watch it snow. When it snowed in Alabama, she was a kid at heart playing in the snow. She loved to watch a snowfall which she described as peaceful. Her last winter she said she wished she was able to still play in it. She had a big heart for animals and loved nature. She saw God’s artwork in the beauty of nature.

While in high school, she desired to be a schoolteacher, but due to her daddy’s sudden passing, she had to put her dream on hold. Education was important to her, and she insisted that her girls get a college education. It was not a question of if they went to college, but when. She was always proud of her girls’ accomplishments. She would often comment about her daughters in that she had the nurse to care for her health and a lawyer to take care of everything else.

Life wasn’t aways easy for her, but she always found the strength to press on. Earlier in her life, she suffered the loss of her father, and her husband was injured at work. She stepped up and took on all the responsibility for caring for family and met all life’s obstacles head on. She was an example to her children of hard work and dedication to family. To ease the responsibilities placed on her, she was creative in making things easier on herself. One summer, she planted a garden full of peanuts and sold the peanuts to purchase her first dishwasher. This took one more burden from her busy life.

To ease the financial burden of her daughter’s education, she returned to school at the age of 40. She enrolled in Ray’s Beauty School in Florence. She would comment on how hard it was to study at her age. But she successfully completed her training and passed her boards. She opened her own beauty shop in Cherokee which she ran for 20 years. Her work as a beautician took a toll on her health and led to her retirement after her youngest daughter completed her education.

She was always there for her girls and loved them with all her heart. She went from being their mother to being their best friend. Her world revolved around them as theirs revolved around her. Her love for animals carried over to her children.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Neal Narmore, daughter Beth McGee and husband Robbie, of Missoula, Becky Narmore and husband, Patrick Stokes, Helena, special nephew, Brett Narmore and wife, Joy, their sons Isaiah and Benjamin, Dallas, Texas. She was preceded in death by her father, Herbert Campbell, mother Ora Campbell, brother, Troy Campbell, sister Mearl Hamilton.

Special thank you to everyone who sent cards to adorn her bedroom during her battle. Her room was covered in cards of support and love. A special thank you to Harris Chapel Baptist Church of Cherokee, Alabama for their visit with her this summer. The family wishes to thank all the friends and family who sent flowers, messages, prayers, and love during her short illness.

Although our hearts are ripped out from losing Mama, we will cherish the words she said to us on May 23, 2022, when our world came crashing down. Mama said, “We’ve had a wonderful life.” And yes, we have.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, August 29, 2022, at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Missoula, Montana officiated by Lee Merck of the Montana Southern Baptist Convention.