Bettie Baker Huntley

Wadesboro – Mrs. Bettie Baker Huntley, age 89, passed away peacefully at First Health Hospice of Moore County on March 21, 2020. Mrs. Huntley, an Anson County native, lived in Wadesboro. Born May 14, 1930, to the late E. E. Baker and the late Sally Baker, Bettie was their third child. Her siblings are as follows: the late Roderick Baker, the late Frank Baker, the late Hugh Baker, and the late Alan Baker. Bettie met and married her high school sweetheart and best friend Harry Huntley. After graduating from Wadesboro High School, she attended Greensboro College and transferred to UNC Chapel Hill, to be with Harry. They married during their senior year at UNC in 1951, exiting the university soon after. They moved to Air Force bases in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and El Paso, Texas, as Harry served as an Air Force Lieutenant. After her husband's military service in 1954, Bettie and Harry returned to Wadesboro. Bettie began a primary and elementary teaching career, while Harry went to work for his father's business, Huntley Motors which later became Huntley Buick Pontiac Oldsmobile. Taking short absences from her teaching career, Bettie gave birth to four children: William Everett, LuEllen, Sally Ann, and Mary Constance. By 1962, Betty would advance her teaching career by teaching elementary grades across the Anson County region. In later years, she taught at Anson Community College. While Bettie was an accomplished educator, her first love was her husband and four children. Both she and Harry chose to be active members of First United Methodist Church in Wadesboro and raise their children as members of this church home. Bettie was an avid golfer, astute bridge player, and exceptional at solving difficult crossword puzzles. Her pleasures were many; providing a loving, orderly home for her husband and children was always her priority. Bettie enjoyed outdoor gardening; she took pride in raising eucalyptus and Japanese Maple trees, transplanting native wood ferns and other hearty native plants from the country to her backyard. More than anything Bettie loved being with Harry and the children. She prepared meals for her family often featuring fresh locally grown vegetables, casserole dishes, and her trademark beef tenderloins. Mrs. Huntley is survived by her children, Bill Huntley and his wife Joanne Huntley; LuEllen Huntley; Sally Braly and husband, Paul Braly; Connie Duncan and husband Steve Duncan; grandsons William Everette Huntley Jr., and wife Brinley, Joseph Bruce Huntley, and Michael Braly; granddaughter Sarah Katharine Elks and husband Dylan Elks; great-grandsons Everette Huntley and Anderson Elks; and great-granddaughter Charlotte Huntley. A private graveside service for immediate family will be held Friday, March27, 2020, 2:00PM, Eastview Cemetery, Wadesboro, NC. The immediate family asks extended family members and friends who knew and loved Bettie to set aside time this day of service to offer private prayers and meditations for our beloved Bettie. In lieu of flowers, individuals may wish to make a donation to First Health Hospice of Moore County, PO Box 5889, Pinehurst, NC, 28374 or to First United Methodist Church, 118 E. Morgan St., Wadesboro, NC 28170 or to Penick Continuing Care Community, 500 East Rhode Island Ave., Southern Pines, NC 28387. Arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com. AS OF MARCH 23, 2020, STATE OFFICIALS HAVE MANDATED LIMITS ON GATHERINGS TO 50 PEOPLE OR LESS. THE NATIONAL CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC) RECOMMENDS A LIMIT OF 10 PEOPLE OR LESS PER EVENT. IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP ALL OF OUR FAMILIES SAFE AT THIS TIME, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE ADVICE OF THESE PROFESSIONALS WHEN DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO ATTEND A PUBLICLY SCHEDULED SERVICE.