Betty Marsh Askins, 82, passed away on May 30, 2018 in Germantown, TN. She was a member of Germantown United Methodist Church and lived at The Village at Germantown. Born and raised in Fayetteville, TN, she was a registered nurse who enjoyed helping people. She married a childhood classmate, Larry Eugene Askins, and they raised their two sons in Columbus, IN. She headed the Home Health Department of Columbus Regional Hospital. She first visited Memphis while in nursing school, and a juice glass from Pappy and Jimmy’s (with the lobsters with human heads) was a fun souvenir in her household for many years. She moved to Germantown in 2009 to be closer to family, especially her grandson, Walker Askins, the apple of her eye. She was always grateful to be included in her daughter-in-law’s family, and to attend parties and vacations with them. Her grandest vacations were trips to Hawaii and to the Kentucky Derby. She had a dry sense of humor. She hardly ever complained. One time she had a notoriously painful procedure, and when asked whether it hurt, she said, “Yes, but what are you going to do about it; sit on the curb and cry?” That sums up her approach; do what needs to be done. She always made sure to vote, and to use her vote to help people.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Grady Urbane Marsh and Maybelle Hardin Marsh, and her husband, Larry Eugene Askins. She is survived by her son, Kelly Marsh Askins, and daughter-in-law, Joanne Farley Rhodes, and her grandson, Walker Farley Marsh Askins, of Germantown, TN; and her son, Dave Askins, and his wife, Mary Morgan. Betty is also survived by Mamie Banger and Christina Duncan Heindel, dear friends who went on many adventures with her.
She loved dogs, especially her collie, Lassie, who died the same week as husband Larry. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to go to the Memphis Humane Society or charity of the donor’s choice.
Memphis area friends and family will gather for visiting hours Friday, June 1, 2018, at 5:00-7:00 PM and a service Saturday, June 2, 2018, at 10:00 AM at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Poplar.
In Fayetteville TN, her childhood home, there will be a visiting hour on Sunday, June 3, 2018, at 2:00 PM and a service at 3:00 PM at Higgins Funeral Home. Burial afterwards will be at Rose Hill Cemetery.
