Mrs. Betty Jo Matthews

She learned to cook as a child, allowing her to spend less time picking cotton on the family farm. She met her future husband when he came home to find she had rented his bedroom. She worked as a licensed pharmacist for over 50 years. Betty Jo Matthews died on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at her home in Guntersville of complications from dementia. She was 91. The funeral will be Friday, November 28, at 11:00 a.m. at Carr Funeral Home, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Betty was born on September 26, 1934, to parents Birdie and Gordon Amos in Albertville. Her parents owned a farm where they raised her, her sister Jill, and two brothers, Dillard and Clive “Huddie.” While Thomas Matthews was on leave from the Navy, he arrived at his Gadsden home to find his parents had rented his bedroom to Betty. She’d moved there after graduating from Albertville High School in 1952 to work as a dental hygienist. After they married, Betty worked while Tom got his degree in pharmacy. She then earned her pharmacy degree at Howard College (now Samford University) while working part-time and raising their three children. In 1966, the family moved to Guntersville, and in 1970, became partners in the Haralson’s drugstore. While Tom worked at the store, Betty worked for drugstores in Scottsboro and later in Huntsville until her retirement in 1994. Haralson’s sold to the Murphrees in 1986, and Betty routinely filled in as a relief pharmacist after she retired. She was fiercely independent and continued to live a full life after her husband’s death in 1992. In addition to her career, she pursued many pastimes, including reading, following sports, traveling, and playing bridge. She also loved to visit with and dote over her five grandchildren, who knew her as Granny. She enjoyed watching baseball, football, basketball, and golf. The Atlanta Braves were a particular favorite. She loved and followed University of Alabama football from her youth through Bear Bryant’s tenure. But her allegiance later changed as her three daughters all attended and graduated from Auburn University. Bridge was her card game of choice, and she was known by her fellow bridge companions as an excellent, ruthless player. She dearly loved spending time with her many friends in every bridge setting she could manage to take part in. Betty caught the travel bug when she and Tom went to Italy in the 1970s. She fully embraced traveling after she retired, enjoying domestic and international tours with local bank and senior travel clubs. She was a member of the Guntersville First Baptist Church, and the Philathia Sunday school class. Well known for her cooking skills, she enjoyed serving on church food committees. She is survived by three children, Sheila Harvey (John) of Guntersville, Gina Matthews of Birmingham, and Suzie Cox of Guntersville; five grandchildren, Alice Jones (Blake) of Birmingham, Evan Harvey (Libby) of Memphis, Tennessee, Jane Harvey of Birmingham, Thomas Harvey of Milbrook, New York, and Matthew Cox (Marisa) of Atlanta, Georgia; three great-grandsons, Huck, Teddy, and Beau Harvey of Memphis, Tennessee; and a sister, Jill McMurtrie, of Huntsville. She was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Thomas Edward Matthews. The family suggests memorial donations to Shepherd’s Cove Hospice, 408 Martling Rd, Albertville, AL 35951

Mrs. Betty Jo Matthews

September 26, 1934 - November 20, 2025