Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN) - October 13, 2007
Deceased Name: Former first lady Mrs. Blanton dies -- Ex-wife of past Tenn. governorNASHVILLE - Betty Blanton, ex-wife of former Gov. Ray Blanton, died of cancer Friday at Alive Hospice, relatives said. She was 77.Mrs. Blanton, who had worked as a state employee in the Department of Labor and the Treasurer's Office, had been at the facility about two months.
Deborah Blanton Flack said her mother was in excellent health until she was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago."She was a very genuine person who stepped up to her duties as first lady of Tennessee so well," first lady Andrea Conte said in a statement. "She was so thoughtful and considerate, and so sweet."Her former husband, a Democrat, died in 1996. He had been a three-term congressman from West Tennessee, and was governor from 1975 to 1979.
In 1981, he was convicted of mail fraud, conspiracy and extortion for selling liquor licenses. He served 22 months in federal prison.
Betty Blanton was born in Portageville, Mo., but moved with her family to Adamsville, Tenn., at a young age.
She married Blanton in 1949. They divorced shortly after he left office in 1979.
As first lady, she raised funds for the Tennessee School for the Deaf and oversaw the state's bicentennial.
In April 2005, Betty Blanton joined Conte and three former first ladies at the Executive Residence at a fund-raiser for money to restore the governor's mansion.
Survivors include two sons, a daughter and four grandchildren.
Funeral services are at the United Methodist Church in Adamsville, with burial in Adamsville Cemetery.
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Deceased Name: Former first lady Mrs. Blanton dies -- Ex-wife of past Tenn. governorNASHVILLE - Betty Blanton, ex-wife of former Gov. Ray Blanton, died of cancer Friday at Alive Hospice, relatives said. She was 77.Mrs. Blanton, who had worked as a state employee in the Department of Labor and the Treasurer's Office, had been at the facility about two months.
Deborah Blanton Flack said her mother was in excellent health until she was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago."She was a very genuine person who stepped up to her duties as first lady of Tennessee so well," first lady Andrea Conte said in a statement. "She was so thoughtful and considerate, and so sweet."Her former husband, a Democrat, died in 1996. He had been a three-term congressman from West Tennessee, and was governor from 1975 to 1979.
In 1981, he was convicted of mail fraud, conspiracy and extortion for selling liquor licenses. He served 22 months in federal prison.
Betty Blanton was born in Portageville, Mo., but moved with her family to Adamsville, Tenn., at a young age.
She married Blanton in 1949. They divorced shortly after he left office in 1979.
As first lady, she raised funds for the Tennessee School for the Deaf and oversaw the state's bicentennial.
In April 2005, Betty Blanton joined Conte and three former first ladies at the Executive Residence at a fund-raiser for money to restore the governor's mansion.
Survivors include two sons, a daughter and four grandchildren.
Funeral services are at the United Methodist Church in Adamsville, with burial in Adamsville Cemetery.
BB
Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN) - October 13, 2007
Deceased Name: Former first lady Mrs. Blanton dies -- Ex-wife of past Tenn. governorNASHVILLE - Betty Blanton, ex-wife of former Gov. Ray Blanton, died of cancer Friday at Alive Hospice, relatives said. She was 77.Mrs. Blanton, who had worked as a state employee in the Department of Labor and the Treasurer's Office, had been at the facility about two months.
Deborah Blanton Flack said her mother was in excellent health until she was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago."She was a very genuine person who stepped up to her duties as first lady of Tennessee so well," first lady Andrea Conte said in a statement. "She was so thoughtful and considerate, and so sweet."Her former husband, a Democrat, died in 1996. He had been a three-term congressman from West Tennessee, and was governor from 1975 to 1979.
In 1981, he was convicted of mail fraud, conspiracy and extortion for selling liquor licenses. He served 22 months in federal prison.
Betty Blanton was born in Portageville, Mo., but moved with her family to Adamsville, Tenn., at a young age.
She married Blanton in 1949. They divorced shortly after he left office in 1979.
As first lady, she raised funds for the Tennessee School for the Deaf and oversaw the state's bicentennial.
In April 2005, Betty Blanton joined Conte and three former first ladies at the Executive Residence at a fund-raiser for money to restore the governor's mansion.
Survivors include two sons, a daughter and four grandchildren.
Funeral services are at the United Methodist Church in Adamsville, with burial in Adamsville Cemetery.
BB
Deceased Name: Former first lady Mrs. Blanton dies -- Ex-wife of past Tenn. governorNASHVILLE - Betty Blanton, ex-wife of former Gov. Ray Blanton, died of cancer Friday at Alive Hospice, relatives said. She was 77.Mrs. Blanton, who had worked as a state employee in the Department of Labor and the Treasurer's Office, had been at the facility about two months.
Deborah Blanton Flack said her mother was in excellent health until she was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago."She was a very genuine person who stepped up to her duties as first lady of Tennessee so well," first lady Andrea Conte said in a statement. "She was so thoughtful and considerate, and so sweet."Her former husband, a Democrat, died in 1996. He had been a three-term congressman from West Tennessee, and was governor from 1975 to 1979.
In 1981, he was convicted of mail fraud, conspiracy and extortion for selling liquor licenses. He served 22 months in federal prison.
Betty Blanton was born in Portageville, Mo., but moved with her family to Adamsville, Tenn., at a young age.
She married Blanton in 1949. They divorced shortly after he left office in 1979.
As first lady, she raised funds for the Tennessee School for the Deaf and oversaw the state's bicentennial.
In April 2005, Betty Blanton joined Conte and three former first ladies at the Executive Residence at a fund-raiser for money to restore the governor's mansion.
Survivors include two sons, a daughter and four grandchildren.
Funeral services are at the United Methodist Church in Adamsville, with burial in Adamsville Cemetery.
BB
Inscription
[front side];
Grace Love Courage / Betty Jane / Littlefield / Feb. 14, 1930 / Oct. 12, 2007 / We Honor and Remember / Our Loving Mother
[back side]:
[SEAL]
First Lady of / Tennessee / 1975 - 1979
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