Betty Onalea (Fortney) Mathis (1925 - 1997)

Born 13 Jul 1925 in West Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 21 Feb 1997 at age 71 in Michigan, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lori Lockhart [send private message]

LDS # G8JD-968 / wiki # Fortney-793

Biography

Betty Onalea Fortney (aka “Onalea”) was born July 13, 1925, in Lumberport, West Virginia, to Carl Everett Fortney (aka “Everett Fortney”) and Lula Holt.

At the time of the U.S. Census in April 1930, Betty, age 4 yrs 9 mos, resided in a rented home at 507 South Front Street, in Fremont City, Sandusky County, Ohio, with her parents, “Everett,” 25 and Lula, 26, her brothers Guy H., 5 and Carl, 27 months, and her sister Anita J., 11 months. No one in the family attended school; both of Betty’s parents could read and write. Both her parents, and all her siblings were born in West Virginia, except Carl who was born in Pennsylvania. The parents of both “Everett” and Lula were all born in West Virginia. Everett's occupation was Heater at the Drop Forge Works.

As of 1935, Betty and her family continued to reside in Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio.

At the time of the U.S. Census in April 1940, Betty, age 14, resided in a rented home in Brown, an unincorporated area in Harrison County, West Virginia, with her parents, “Everett C. Fortney,” 35, and Lula 36, her brothers, Guy, 16, Carl, 12, and David, 9, and her sisters, Anita, 10, and Sue Ann, 3. Everett had completed school through the 7th grade; Lula had attended school through the second year of High School. All the children except Sue Ann were currently attending school. All the family members, including son Carl, were born in West Virginia. Everett’s occupation was "Building," and the industry was WPA Sanitation. In 1939 he worked 9 weeks, for a total of income of “117.”

At the time of the U.S. Census in April 1950, Betty, age 24, resided at 2002 East Fairmount Avenue, Baltimore Maryland, with her husband John Crispino, 24, and their two children, Barbara, 2, and John, 9 months old. Both Betty and her husband were born in West Virginia. Both children were born in Maryland. John had worked 40 hours the previous week, as a Pipefitter’s Helper, in the Shipbuilding industry.

In January 1962, Betty and John’s divorce was registered in Dade County, Florida.

Betty died February 21, 1997, in Trenton, Michigan. At the time she died, she was married to William Mathis, and had been residing in Lincoln Park, Michigan. At the time of her death, her brother David Fortney and sister Sue Fortney were still living.

A funeral was held for her in Erin, Tennessee, and she and was buried in the McDonald Cemetery, in Tennessee Ridge, Tennessee. Her grave is marked by a tombstone shared with her husband, William T. “Huck” Mathis, August 6, 1939 – August 14, 2003.

Further facts / confirmations provided by personal knowledge of of living descendants: Betty and John Crispino had four children. Barbara Diana (Lockhart)(Rohloff)(Bodine); John James; Carl Michael; and Donald Keith.

Barbara had one child, with husband Gary, and no grandchildren.

John had one child, with wife Cheri, and as of 2022, one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.

Cark had two children, with wife Pam, and as of 2022, two grandchildren.

Donald had one child, with wife Robin, and, as of 2022, one grandchild.

After her divorce from John, Betty lived for a time in Baltimore Maryland with her oldest and youngest children, Barbara and “Donnie.” At some point, Betty and her children moved to Tennessee, where she met William T. “Huck” Mathis. In about 1972, Betty and Huck moved to Michigan with Donnie, in search of work. There, Huck became employed in a steel mill. When they first moved to Michigan, they resided in a home on Buckingham Avenue, in Allen Park.

At the time of her death, Betty had five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Betty enjoyed crocheting and quilting, and made afghans and quilts for family members.

Throughout their adult lives, Betty and her children were close, and the extended family gathered together at her home nearly every Sunday and holiday. She enjoyed going on trips with her children and grandchildren, including camping.

The marriage date on Betty's grave marker may not accurately reflect the date on which they were legally married. This editor believes that though they were together for a long time, they did not legally marry until the early to mid 1970's due to some practical/financial reason. Based upon the date of the events, it may be that they waited until after the death of Betty's first husband, the father of her youngest son, Donald.

Betty's burial in Tennessee was occasioned by the fact that it was her husband Huck's childhood home, and where he wished to be buried. Her family had little connection with the area.

Known residences of Betty and Huck include: - 6407 Buckingham, Allen Park, Michigan (about 1975) - on Pardee Road in Taylor, Michigan (about 1977) - on Park (?) Street, in Allen Park, Michigan (about 1980) - 1779 Saint Johns Blvd, Lincoln Park, Michigan (across the street from daughter Barbara) (about 1986) - 1952 Moran Avenue, Lincoln Park, Michigan (about 1987) - 1487 Garfield Avenue, Lincoln Park Michigan

Sources

1. News-Press; Publication Date: 5 Feb 1977; Publication Place: Fort Myers, Florida, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/212802493/?article=1e68bbdd-056b-458b-9081-4e0d391a6a6c&focus=0.51880085,0.41537157,0.67366874,0.55083567&xid=3355 Via Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/196421989:61843?ssrc=pt&tid=116857661&pid=110166556764

2. Publication Place: City, Virginia, USA; URL: http://www.tributes.com/obituary/print_selections/95201131?type=1 Via Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/246744628:7545?ssrc=pt&tid=116857661&pid=110166556764

3. Monroe County Historical Commission Archives; Monroe, MI, USA; Obituary Search (a) Via Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/750016322:9229?ssrc=pt&tid=116857661&pid=110166556764 (b) Via Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/750006776:9229?ssrc=pt&tid=116857661&pid=110166556764

4. Obituary Collection Search. Archives Department. Montgomery County, Tennessee. http://www.mcgtn.org/archives/obituaries: accessed 24 August 2014. Via Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/5514:70514?ssrc=pt&tid=116857661&pid=110166556764

5. "West Virginia Births." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2008, 2009. From digital images of copies of originals housed in County Courthouses throughout West Virginia. Birth records. Via Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1543614:2537?ssrc=pt&tid=116857661&pid=110166556764

6. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. Via Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/69702092:6224?ssrc=pt&tid=116857661&pid=110166556764

7. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls. Via Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/148051148:2442?ssrc=pt&tid=116857661&pid=110166556764

8. Department of Commerce. Bureau of the Census. 1913-1/1/1972. Population Schedules for the 1950 Census, 1950 - 1950. Washington, DC: National Archives at Washington, DC. Via Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/60199268:62308?ssrc=pt&tid=100414998&pid=202383268142

9. Florida Department of Health. Florida Divorce Index, 1927-2001. Jacksonville, FL, USA: Florida Department of Health. Via Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1025250:8837?ssrc=pt&tid=116857661&pid=110166556764

10. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36169782/betty-o-mathis : accessed 20 June 2022), memorial page for Betty O Fortney Mathis (13 Jul 1925–21 Feb 1997), Find a Grave Memorial ID 36169782, citing McDonald Cemetery, Houston County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by LesaK (contributor 46961305) .

11. Obituary of Betty Mathis from the personal files of Barbara Crispino.