Betty Warstler, age 95, of Franklin, passed away on Sunday, June 9, 2024. Betty was born in Shelby, Montana on May 7, 1929, and was the eldest daughter of the late Rev. Walter and Josie Miller. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Harold Warstler, by three sisters, Roberta McInnis, Bonnie Krall, Ilene Junker, and two brothers, Delbert Miller, and Kenneth Miller. She is survived by a sister, Sandie Wood of Thorp, Wisconsin, two daughters, Kim Mason and husband Junior Mason of Franklin, Pam Ervin and husband Tim Ervin of Salisbury, and son Brad Warstler and wife Ellen Shankin of Floyd, Virginia: eight grandchildren, Falon Bryant, Dustin Mason, Jesse Shuler, Eric Ervin, Adam Ervin, Nicole Plummer, Clayton Warstler, Jacob Warstler, and 16 great grandchildren.

Betty and Harold moved to Franklin in 1965. Betty worked with women in the community as part of the Homemaker Training Program, which was one of the early outreach programs started under Harold's tenure as director at Macon Program For Progress. In 1969, Betty and Harold helped establish Maco Crafts, a non-profit, volunteer run, craft co-op, that opened for business in a house on town hill, starting with 40 craftsmen and volunteers. Betty managed the co-op for the first three years without pay, then on a salary for seven more years. For the next 30 years Maco Crafts continued to grow in membership and reputation, giving the craftsmen of Macon County a unique place to showcase and sell their work.

Betty was a longtime member of Franklin First United Methodist Church where she served on many of the church leadership committees, focusing on mission-based projects. Together with members of the Laura Jones UMW Circle, Betty helped establish the church's annual bazaar. Now in it's 35th year, the bazaar has raised more than $700,000 to provide funds for local, regional, national, and global missions. Betty and Harold went on a number of mission trips both in the United States and abroad. When declining health made it impossible to continue going on mission trips, she helped start woodworking and stain glass classes at FUMC to help and encourage members to make work that could be sold to raise money for missions. Betty sewed hundreds of outfits for children in Honduras and made many other fabric, stained glass and wood items to be sold at the annual bazaar to raise money for missions. She was still at her sewing machine three weeks before her passing.

This past March the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County awarded Betty with the 7th Annual Women's History Trail "Macon Matriarch" Award, a "Certificate of Appreciation in recognition for your lifelong dedication to the people of Macon County through community service."

Betty was a good wife, mother, neighbor, and mentor and she will be missed.

The family would like to thank the Kate B Reynolds Hospice House in Winston-Salem for their thoughtful care and support.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 13th at 2:00 pm at First United Methodist Church. Family will receive friends from 12:30 – 1:45 prior to memorial.