Bettye McKay Hillen died Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, Mississippi, following an extended illness. Graveside services are at Oddfellows Cemetery in Starkville at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 13, 2016. Welch Funeral Home of Starkville is handling arrangements. The Rev. Laurence Wainwright-Maks will officiate.

Bettye was born in Athens, Georgia, to Hayden Mayo and Frances Bond McKay. She attended MSCW following graduation from Starkville High School. She was a homemaker and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was a long time communicant of The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Starkville, Mississippi.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Reed III and Mary Jane of Tupelo, Mississippi; her daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Bobby Smith of Peachtree City, Georgia.; six grandchildren, Reed Hillen, IV (Jennifer), Anderson Hillen Ferguson (Niall), Kathleen Hillen, Tyler Smith, Blake Smith (Joanna) and Morgan Smith Lanier (Drew); three great-grandchildren, Autumn Smith, Harper Hillen and Olivia Smith; and a brother, George McKay of Laurel, Maryland.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Walter Reed Hillen, Jr., her parents and her brothers, David McKay and Jimmy McKay.

The family would like to extend their appreciation and sincere thanks to the doctors, nurses and caregivers that throughout the years and who most recently provided concern, care, support, and expertise that allowed Bettye to live a full and complete life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Post Office Box 1566, Starkville, Mississippi 39769, or a charity of your choosing.