Betty Watson Peartree passed away on July 9, 2012. Betty was born in Rome on October 15, 1925, to George Grady Watson and Flonnie Ford Watson. She was married to the Edward Janell (Bud) Peartree III on July 22, 1944. He preceded her in death on April 28, 1971.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Grady Barron Watson. She is survived by her children, Pam Roberts and her husband Bill of Rome; Patrice Page and her husband Dan of Campobello, SC; and Phil Peartree of Mt. Pleasant, SC. She is also survived by her grandchildren Jeremy Roberts and his wife Robin, Auburn Al; Jessica Hewitt and her husband Chris, Rome; Kristin Pryor and her husband Micah, Taylors, SC; Kathryn Page, Columbia, SC; and Molly Peartree, Mt. Pleasant, SC. Her great-grandchildren are Allie Roberts, Auburn, Al; Tyler Hewitt and Brady Hewitt, Rome; and Ansley Pryor and Eli Pryor, Taylors, SC; her sister, Gladys Watson Winkle of Ocala, Florida.

A 1942 graduate of Rome High School, Mrs. Peartree had a career in the insurance business. She was the first woman in Rome to become a member of the Million Dollar Round Table. She was a member of the Spade and Trowel Garden Club and the Rome Federated Garden Club. She was an organizing member of Clean Community which became Keep Rome/Floyd Beautiful and served as its chairman numerous times. She also served as a Board member of the Chamber of Commerce and on numerous Chamber committees. She was a judge for the annual Rome Christmas Parade for many years. She was a member of the Rome First United Methodist Church and a former member of the Coosa Country Club.

Funeral services were held at Rome First United Methodist Church on July 12th, with the Rev. Jane Brooks officiating. Members of the Adult Fellowship Sunday School Class served as Honorary Pallbearers. Interment followed in East View Cemetery.

Betty and Bud Peartree were friends of my parents. They thought so highly of them that we called them Aunt Betty and Uncle Bud. Our families sojourned on a trip through the Smokey Mountains to Cherokee, North Carolina one year in a station wagon. We traveled through the amazing scenery stopping on the side of the street to picnic and take photos of bears in trash cans! We had an amazing time watching taffy being pulled and wearing on the patience of the hotel guests going up and down the elevator just for fun.