Bettie Royals Moody

April 25, 1938 - January 25, 2022

Bettie Jane Royals Moody died January 25, 2022, surrounded by her family. Born April 25, 1938, in Pensacola, Florida to Douglas Fisher Royals and Amanda Elizabeth Yongue Royals, they returned to Elizabeth's native town of Reddick, Florida when Bettie was a young girl. She grew up nurtured by the love of grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, sisters, cousins, and friends - whose homes were just a few steps away - and those rich memories of childhood would be the subject of the vivid and hilarious stories she loved to tell the rest of her life, her blue eyes merrily twinkling. Bettie graduated from Reddick High School and went on to earn her BA in English at Blue Mountain College in Blue Mountain, Mississippi and her MA in English at the University of Mississippi at Oxford. She enjoyed a long, happy career teaching literature with her intellect and talent making her the favorite of many students. She began as a charter faculty member at Lake Sumter Community College, then taught at Brevard Community College, finishing with two decades in Lake County schools. June 20, 1964, Bettie married Robert Moody and their marriage of 57 years produced three beloved children and four grandchildren. They resided for 48 years at their home in Fruitland Park where Bettie loved to tend her luscious flower, fruit, and vegetable gardens. She held to the virtues of domestic life, setting beautiful tables for many home cooked and shared family meals, making all her beds with the softest sheets and lovely quilts. Many chilly morning and evening hours were spent hearthside sewing or writing letters, a cheerful fire crackling in her fireplace. She took great joy in finding linen tea towels to embellish with buttons and needlework, most of which she gave away. Bettie is survived by her husband, Robert Howard Moody, and three children - son Robert Howard Moody II and wife Karla Willim Moody of Big Canoe, Georgia; daughter Lara Elizabeth Moody and husband John Tolbert McGlohorn of Fruitland Park and Reddick, Florida; daughter Lisa Allison Moody Louw and husband Johannes Wynand Louw of Newberry, Florida. She was a cherished grandmother to four much adored grandsons: Adrian Jacobus Louw, Jonathan Paul Louw, Trevor Carlyle Louw, and Robert Henry Moody. For those who inhabited her heart, Bettie's greatest joy on earth was to give of herself and her "exchequer" as she laughingly called her funds. She spoiled us all beyond compare. A private memorial service will be held in the spring among the flowers Bettie grew. In lieu of flowers, purposefully recognize a need in those around you and see to it quietly in memory of Bettie's generous spirit. Arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home Crematory, Leesburg, FL.