Betty Cruse Thomason

Betty Hale Cruse Thomason

October 4, 1922 - July 18, 2024

“Trust in the Lord with with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6

This verse was Betty’s favorite, which she lived every day of her life

Betty Hale Cruse Thomason, 101, passed away at her home in Charlotte, NC, on July 18, 2024. She was reunited with her husband, Bill, 17 days after his passing as she couldn’t imagine life without him after 75 years together.  They supported each other and did everything together which was how they got through life.

She was born to Clarence and Iva Mae Foley Cruse, at their home in Charlotte, NC, on October 4, 1922. Her mother chose Betty’s middle name, Hale, after her favorite brother-in-law who brought her to NC from the Midwest. Betty joined three siblings: LaRue, age 8, Iva, age 5, and Rob, age 3 creating a loving family of six. Sadly, their mother, Iva Mae, was diagnosed with cancer 6 weeks after Betty was born. She passed away 9 months later after a brave battle with a disease they knew little about how to treat in 1922.

Before her passing, Iva Mae, asked her sister-in-law, Anna Mae Cruse Matthews, to take care of Betty. She lovingly did so in cooperation with her brother, Clarence, and the rest of their family. Betty would marvel later in life about the sacrifice Anna Mae and her husband lovingly made, without reservation, to expand their family to three children. 

She grew up during the Depression surrounded by family, who, like many in the Depression lost possessions and more but learned to survive, and also be content and grateful. She learned, “If you can’t pay for it, you don’t buy it.” Her dad provided what they needed, but no extras.

She learned to waste NOTHING. “Waste not, want not,” she would say. She gently unwrapped presents at the tape so the paper could be smoothed out to use again…never ripping it. She saved leftovers after meals, always scraping the bowl clean. Later creating new dishes to serve until every bite was eaten. No picky eaters allowed, eat what was served and be grateful to have food. 

She was taught to share and help people in need. They didn’t have abundance, but her father always found a way to share something if someone came to the door hungry or in need.  Betty lived this generosity the rest of her life, never wealthy, but always sharing with people in need. 

Her father died in 1939, but had advised her to take business courses in school so she would have skills to make a living.  She graduated from Central High School in 1941. Her first job was working in the home office of S & W Cafeteria. 

After Pearl Harbor, supporting the war effort through service took many forms. Betty trained as a Nurses’ Aide and happily volunteered at Memorial Hospital. In 1942 and 1943, she worked the 6-10 shift one night a week while also maintaining her regular job. After her shift, she arrived home around midnight after catching two buses and walking the final distance. She still had to be at S & W the next day at 8 AM for work. 

Later, she worked in the office at Union Carbon and Carbide. The company made walkie talkies for the troops.

She dreamed of having a family of her own, being a wife and mother. On New Year's Eve,1948, a friend set her up on a blind date and she met Bill. One look at him and she thought he was someone she would love. She was right. They married in October 1949, staying together for 75 years. 

Bill, a World War II veteran, was happy to be restarting his civilian life with marriage to his sweetheart, Betty.  However, shortly after their marriage, his reserve unit was recalled in the Korean War. He was sent to Godman Air Force Base in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Should she go with him? Her friends and family told her to stay, keep her job and live comfortably in the duplex they had rented. However, Betty listened to her grandmother who said, “Go. I told you when you married him your home was with him where ever he was.” So off they went to Kentucky where it gets cold and snowy in the long winter. Betty was never fond of snow or cold. She arrived to discover that she would be living off base in a shack on the side of a mountain. When retelling the story she would say, “Yes, it was really a shack!” She had to shovel the coal, when Bill was on duty to keep the heater going. Despite these rugged conditions, she willingly persevered to support him and would say, “BUT we had the “nicer” shack because we had a bathroom inside.” She was always the optimist, never complaining.  Soon after arrival, she looked for a job and convinced the quartermaster on base to hire her. They saved all of the money she made, planning to one day build a house. They built that house in 1956 and remained there until their deaths. 

They made the most of their modest income by not carrying a heavy debt load, making a budget and sticking to it to cover needs first, careful shopping, not wasting anything, canning or freezing produce Bill grew, but always saving a little from each check.

Michael arrived 6 days after Bill was discharged and she finally started the family she dreamed of having. Upon Michael’s arrival, they decided that her job would now be at home, creating a home and raising children. Several years later, Susan arrived. Her prayer was that God would allow her to live long enough to raise these children so they would not experience life without their mother like she did. She was always grateful for His abundant answer of yes. They felt strongly about family and believed their obligation was to their children to see that they had the opportunity to develop their potential. They enjoyed having children, watching them grow and change. They believed that “the best gift you can give is love and the best family traditions we can build are based on our love for each other.”

Betty actively supported her children in many activities. She was Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader, classroom grade mother, Bible School worker, nursery worker, chauffeur to activities too numerous to list, and daily supporter, teaching her children important lessons for living successfully in this world. 

Betty was an active member of Mulberry Presbyterian Church. She supported the church ministries with her time, talents, gifts and service. She participated in Women’s Circle, Sunday School, supporting Bill as he taught, Young At Heart, Bible School, working in the kitchen making meals or snacks, Prayer Chain, faithfully getting prayer requests out to the congregation, and participating in many activities that were held at the church. She was awarded the Women of the Church award in recognition of her devoted service. 

When Mike and Susan headed to college and med school, she chose to return to work outside the home to help support them as they pursued their dreams. She went to work for Belk Store Services in the Architectural Department and remained there until her retirement. 

In 1984, she was given the title she cherished the most: Grandmother. She adored Lauren, John and Leigh and being a grandmother…best job ever! On Sunday, the children would come home with them from church and spend the afternoon. Sometimes she and Bill would go to their house to babysit.  She delighted in feeding them, talking and listening to them, cooking with them, playing with them, attending important events in their lives, and loving them while creating happy memories that she would treasure always. In 2023, that love and joy expanded exponentially when great granddaughter, Harper, was born. Betty’s face lit up whenever she saw Harper, delighting in watching her, holding her, talking to her and playing with her. She was always devoted to her whole family.

Betty was an active member of the community and a good friend to others. People remember she would show up with flowers or food (a wonderful cook) during a difficult time, always ready to help.  She shared recipes, bread starter, homemade bread and other homemade goodies. Perhaps she would sit with a hurting person and and hold hands, bringing comfort beyond words. She actively prayed for people in need and followed up with a call to check on them. As long as she could drive, she volunteered to take people where they needed to go. Maybe she would show up with produce from Bill’s garden to share. She was a good neighbor and helped out when needed. She actively participated in Community Bible Study, always eager to learn more about God’s Word as she faithfully tried to live it each day. 

Although she slowed a bit as she aged, she never stopped. She believed if you sat down and stopped “you have had it” and she wanted to make good use of each day the Lord gave her. Her optimism, enthusiasm and gratitude for each day were inspirational. She believed the keys to happiness were faith, hope, love, gratitude and satisfaction with what you have and are capable of obtaining. She depended on the power of prayer and prayed without ceasing even when the answers she wanted did not come, she trusted in God’s plan and continued to walk with Him.

The family wishes to thank her many caregivers and the VIA team for their compassion, support and comfort on the final part of her journey. 

She is survived by her children, Mike (Liz), Susan; grandchildren, Lauren, John, Leigh (Seb); great granddaughter, Harper; and loving nieces. 

She was predeceased by her husband, Bill; parents and siblings. 

A celebration of life service will be held at Mulberry Presbyterian Church, 5600 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte, NC, 28214 on August 18, 2024 at 2:00 PM. It will be live streamed at https://mulberrypc.org. Rev. Rodger Sellers will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Mulberry Presbyterian Church or VIA Health Partners, P.O. Box 470408, Charlotte, NC 28247.

“To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” Dr. Seuss

You were the world to us and we will miss you, but we carry with us all of the things you taught us and the memories of time spent with you.  As you did, we will rejoice in each day and strive to remember gratitude always. 

We love you Mom, Grandmother, Great Grandmother!

Betty LOVED to cook and was an excellent cook. She loved reading cookbooks, watching cook shows, trying new recipes and sharing old recipes. If you visited her home, she would often make sure you left with something she had made. Shared below is one of her favorite cookie recipes. Maybe you would like to make them, share them or just read the recipe. No matter your choice, Betty would be happy that the recipe has been shared. 

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

CREAM TOGETHER:

1/2 c. peanut butter

1 stick butter

1/2 c. brown sugar 

1/2 c. white sugar

ADD AND MIX WELL:

1 egg

1/8 teaspoon salt

SIFT TOGETHER. ADD AND MIX:

1 teaspoon soda

1 1/4 c. plain flour

Roll piece of dough into small ball.

Place on ungreased cookie sheet. 

Mash flat with a fork.

Bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes. Don’t brown.