In Memoriam: Bettye Jeane Broyles

Bettye Jeane Broyles passed away Sunday, March 27, 2011.She was born Aug. 16, 1928, the daughter of Howard Matlock Broyles and Iva Locke Broyles.

Bettye was a graduate of Red Bank High School and in 1955 graduated from the University of Chattanooga.Following studies in archaeology at Indiana University, she worked as archaeologist at the Illinois State Museum, the Universities of Georgia and North Carolina, the West Virginia Geological Surveys Section of Archaeology and at the University of Mississippi.

Bettye taught classes in archaeology at West Virginia University and was elected a full member of the Society of Sigma Xi, an honorary scientific organization. She published extensively on archeological projects, served in several professional organizations and as editor of the Southeastern Archaeological Conference and editor of the West Virginia Archaeological Society.

Retiring from archaeology in 1987, Bettye returned to Red Bank, Tenn., and began publishing books on Rhea and Meigs County history. She authored or transcribed over 50 publications, served as president of the Rhea County Historical Society for more than 20 years and was named official historian of Rhea County.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Thursday at Lane Funeral Home, Ashland Terrace with visitation 9-10 a.m. Thursday.Interment followed in Decatur Cemetery, Decatur, Tenn.

Ms. Betty Broyles was the compiler of History of Rhea County, Tennessee and has written, abstracted or compiled many other books about Rhea County which will be of help to the genealogist and family historian. Look for these books listed elsewhere on this site.