Elizabeth Victoria (Bette) Atkinson

Elizabeth Victoria (Bette) Atkinson, 95, passed away peacefully at her home on January 15, 2023. She was born on November 11, 1927, in New York, New York. A longtime resident of Maryville, Tennessee, the native New Yorker was dedicated to her friends and family and believed that life was meant to be lived to the fullest – a sentiment she felt and lived earnestly.

Elizabeth worked to make every moment she spent with the people she loved special. From lighting up a room with a show tune on the piano to crafting family game nights, she was an immaculate host and entertainer – always ensuring every single person she encountered felt special. She cherished every event and loved to recount her favorite moments and create meaningful family traditions that will continue to live on.

As a young person, Elizabeth led a vivacious life, carrying her love of music throughout her life – a “bobby soxer” (fan of Frank Sinatra) from her teenage years. She met her husband, Kenneth, in New York, when she was working at Time, Inc. at 30 Rockefeller Center. Later she moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she worked for H.J. Heinz. She and Ken raised their four children in Long Island, NY, Pittsburgh, PA, and Memphis, TN before eventually retiring in Maryville, Tennessee.

Elizabeth was as quick as a whip and as smart as a tack until the very end. She’d spend her days playing cards, attending various community clubs, singing along to Andy Williams (and, of course, Sinatra), and keeping in touch with her friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth, her parents, and her sister, Ruth Eisenhauer. She is survived by her four children, Merrye (Janet); Todd (Joanne); Beth (Reid); Andy (Lisa); her 12 grandchildren: David (Jessica), Kate, Brian, Elizabeth, Tim, Jenny, Drew, Henry (Martha), Elizabeth, Eleanor, Josiah, and Amy; and four great grandchildren, Petra, Blaise, Harley and Juliana.

Family and friends may pay their respects at McCammon Ammon Click Funeral Home, 220 West Broadway, Maryville, Tennessee on Thursday, January 19, 2023 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at New Providence Presbyterian Church, 703 West Broadway, Maryville, Tennessee on Friday, January 20, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to New Providence Presbyterian Church’s Memorial Giving Fund https://newprovidencepres.org/donate/, or by check made out to NPPWC, that can be mailed to, or dropped off in person at New Providence Presbyterian Church, 703 West Broadway Avenue, Maryville, Tennessee 37801.