OCALA, FLORIDA – Betty Lavonne Raines (nee Garman), beloved mother, grandmother, sister and niece, passed into the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Morris Lloyd Raines, who passed away in 2007. She leaves behind two loving children, Morry Raines (Jane) of Dillard, Georgia and Cindy Binkley (Johnny) of Ocala, Florida; four grandchildren, Jason Schaeffer, Matthew Raines, Bethany Stroberg and Katie Crane; 10 great-grandchildren; a brother, David Garman and sister-in-law, Mary, of Escondido, California; sister- in-law Nina Gayle Bishop (Jack) of Bainbridge Island, Washington; and aunt, Naomi Lichlyter, of Phoenix, Arizona.
Betty was a devout Christian and a loving wife and mother. She had an infectious smile, sweet brown eyes and a beautiful personality that was immediately obvious to everyone. She referred to herself, playfully, as “Betty Boop.” Betty was born in Lincoln City, Indiana, just yards from Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home — a fact of which she was very proud. She graduated from Bosse High School in Evansville, Indiana in 1950 and later received scholastic honors from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. Betty loved to write – especially poetry — and several of her poems were published. She also loved nature — notably flowers in spring, pretty leaves and blue skies of autumn. More recently, she enjoyed riding her little dog, Bindi, around her neighborhood on her golf cart. She enjoyed swimming, cooking,
crossword puzzles, bingo, Tripoley, Jeopardy and taking cruises in the Caribbean with her daughter, Cindy. Her life can be summed up in just four words: love, God, family and country. These were her passion. Betty had lots of admiring friends from Gwinnett County, Georgia, Franklin, North Carolina, and Ocala, Florida.
Blessed, Mother, you will be sorely missed and lovingly remembered. Your life will forever be an inspiration and example to your family and all who had the pleasure of knowing you.
Graveside services for family and friends will be held at Gwinnett Memorial Park in Lawrenceville, Georgia at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30. Arrangements are in the care of Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services in Ocala, Florida.