Mrs. Betty Hester Morris

Betty Lou (Hester) Morris died unexpectedly on August 4, 2026, at The Health Center at Research Park in Huntsville, Alabama. She was 69 years old. Born on February 22, 1957, to William and Edna (Talley) Hester in Guntersville, Alabama, Betty was the second of two children and was raised in Diamond. An avowed troublemaker in childhood, Betty enjoyed playing with her cousin and best friend Grady and seeing what kind of trouble they could get up to. She also enjoyed coming up with ways to annoy her sister. Betty attended Warrenton Elementary, Carlisle Park Junior High, and Guntersville High Schools before attending college early at Snead State Junior College. She would go on to get her degree in Accounting at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1979. Betty held many jobs over the years, including at Service Merchandise, Walmart, Child’s World, Animal Emergency Clinic, Huntsville Hospital, and for Huntsville City Schools’ After School program. One of the most consequential jobs for Betty was at Church’s Fried Chicken in Gadsden, Alabama. It was there that she met Robert “Bob” Morris. She came home from work complaining to Edna about how awful he was, to which Edna told her, “You’re going to marry him one day.” On September 19, 1982, Betty and Bob were married at Hillwood Baptist Church in Huntsville. Less than two years later, their only biological child, Janet, was born. In addition to chaperoning field trips and assisting with class parties, Betty volunteered her time at Janet’s schools, working with the Good Citizenship Program at Farley Elementary School and for the Challenger Middle School Choir Parent Association, serving as Treasurer for that from 1996-1998. She helped plan trips the choir would take to Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, and Tuscaloosa. Creativity was an important part of Betty’s life. She learned to play the piano as a child after Grandmother Hester bought her a piano. She would also learn to play the ukulele and the mandolin. While at UAH, she was in the choir as a second soprano. She taught herself how to sew and paid for her college degree by making clothes. Betty also enjoyed drawing, writing, crocheting, and doing cross-stitch. She would draw random ideas for home improvement, and, when she was physically able, she would work on making those ideas a reality. Betty loved animals, even raising hamsters and guinea pigs to be sold at a local pet store for a few years. She had also had ducks, fish, cats, and dogs as pets. Even when she was receiving care out of her home, she would ask about her beloved dog. Her health had become increasingly fragile over the last 18 years, as her kidney disease progressed and impacted multiple organ systems as it did. Eventually she needed to enter a skilled nursing facility. She had a great relationship with most of those who provided her care at doctors’ offices, dialysis, and the nursing home. She treasured the kindness of many of them greatly, and would stock up on her nurses’ favorite snacks during her stay. Betty was preceded in death by her parents and in-laws, Robert and Clarice Morris. She is survived by her husband Bob, daughter Janet and son-in-law Chris Richards, daughter Stephanie Sparks, son Elijah Burns, grandchild Owen Richards, sister Barbara and brother-in-law Danny Sterling, nephew Eric and niece-in-law Eileen Sterling, grandnephew Will Sterling, and many cousins. She is also survived by the family’s dachshund Amy Pond. The memorial service will be August 29, 2026, at noon at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 2110 Byrd Springs Road in Huntsville. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to the National Kidney Foundation or giving the gift of life by donating blood. Over the years, Betty needed repeated blood transfusions due to her kidney disease.

Mrs. Betty Hester Morris

February 22, 1957 - August 4, 2026