Betty Sue Dunning

Betty Sue Dunning, 84, of Oak Ridge, passed peacefully on Oct. 18 after a long illness.

She was born Sept. 15, 1929, in Dardanelle, Ark., to the late John Cary (J.C.) and Rosa Lee Bowman, the seventh of nine children. The family was engaged in farming, and later moved to Wyatt, Mo., where she graduated from Diehlstadt High School in 1947.

She is a graduate of the St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Cairo, Ill., and spent a long career working as a registered nurse, most recently at Oak Ridge Hospital of the Methodist Church (now Methodist Medical Center) and Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital in Oak Ridge.

On April 26, 1952, she married the love of her life, the late Donald E. Dunning, of Cairo, Ill. They enjoyed 58 years of marriage together, until his passing in 2010. The couple lived in Paducah, Ky., and in Cairo, Ill., before moving to Oak Ridge in 1960 with their three young children.

She enjoyed many activities, including quilting, reading, gardening, and hiking. In their retirement years, the couple traveled extensively throughout the United States, enjoying beaches, mountains, and historical sites, from coast to coast and on to Alaska.

In addition to her late husband and parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Odean Bolin, Rachel Elam, and Naomi Glenn; and three brothers, Lindell (Sam) Bowman, Haskell Bowman, and Johnny Bowman.

She is survived by her children, Don and Nancy Dunning of Knoxville, Cindy Dunning Gifford of Denver, Colo., and David and Cathy Dunning of Oak Ridge; grandchildren, Geoffrey and Lindsay Gifford, Cary and Caitlin, Christopher, and Amy Dunning, and Lucas Dunning; sister, Margaret Reese and brother, Paul Bowman of Paducah; and many beloved nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Special thanks to her wonderful doctors and medical staff for many years of outstanding care throughout her illness, and to her loving caregivers during the past several years, most recently at the Courtyards Senior Living facility, where the incredible caring staff made her last months as comfortable as possible.

The family will receive friends at Martin Funeral Home on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. A memorial service will follow at 6:30 p.m., officiated by Rev. Jenny Caughman.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Alzheimer’s Tennessee or to the Hospitality House at Methodist Medical Center.