Elizabeth "Bettie" Gay Reeves Hamilton: Feb. 21, 2011

Elizabeth “Bettie” Gay Reeves Hamilton, 91, of Lexington, passed away Monday at the Hospice Care Center at St. Joseph Hospital.  
She was born Sept. 17, 1919, in Winchester, to the late Margaret Moore Sphar Reeves and Austin Smith Reeves of Clark County.  
She graduated from Winchester High School, attended Sullins College for girls in Bristol, Va. and Lexington Business School.  
She was employed by Sphar & Co., and later in life she was the secretary and bookkeeper for Clarence Lebus and Sons Fourth Street Tobacco Warehouse. She was also a member of Calvary Baptist Church.  
She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 60 years, James Carroll Hamilton; a daughter, Margaret Gay Hamilton; sister, Emily DeGaris Reeves; and two brothers, Asa Sphar Reeves and John Moore Reeves.  
She is survived by her daughter, Sarah Frances Hamilton; two granddaughters, Margaret Gay Van Hook and Caroll Hamilton Van Hook; and a brother, Stephen French Reeves (Lib Crapster) of Ocala, Fla.  
Bettie Gay was proud to have been a descendant of early pioneer families of Clark County and Boonesborough. She was a direct descendant of Col. Richard Callaway, Keziah Callaway, James French, Matthew Patton, James Gay, Matthias Sphar (Strode’s Station) and Daniel Sphar.  
Funeral services will be Saturday at 11:30 a.m. by Dr. Robert G. Baker at Rolan G. Taylor Funeral Home, 289 S. Main St.
Visitation will be Friday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.  
Burial will be in the Winchester Cemetery.  
Pallbearers are William Hamilton, George Gatewood Hamilton, Richard McCloud, Ben D. Goff, John Pumphrey and Kurt Wujcik.  
Honorary pallbearers are Buckner Woodford Hamilton, Arch W. Hamilton, Sam P. Hamilton, William Pumphrey, Richard McCready, John Gardner and Walter Lagroue.