Bette Ray Callow, 96, of Memphis, died Monday at Alive Hospice in Murfreesboro. She was the daughter of the late Lemuel Ransom Ray and Mary Shacklett Ray, and the widow of Capt. William Cutting Callow. She is survived by sons John Callow of Murfreesboro, George Callow (Marsha) of Memphis; three grandchildren, Jessica Ramsey of North Charleston, SC, Laurel Mastin of Hanahan, SC, and Will Callow of Memphis; and a great-grandson, Andrew Mastin.
She was born in Madisonville, Ky. She was a graduate of Memphis Central High School, the University of Memphis (B.A.), and the University of Louisville (M.A.). She did advanced graduate work at Cornell University. For more than 30 years she taught Art History and was the slide curator at the Memphis College of Arts. Her specialty was the Faustian myth. She once flew to London to see a rarely performed back-to-back presentation of Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, Parts I and II.
She was an Episcopalian and a communicant at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Memphis where she sang in the choir for more than 40 years. She was the first woman to serve on the Cathedral Chapter. After retiring from MCA, she served as Cathedral Archivist. Her late brother, the Rev. William Shacklett Ray, was a former rector of St. Paul’s, Franklin, and Trinity Church, Clarksville.
She was an opera lover and a long-time member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild. For many years she flew to New York City at least once a season to attend a live performance of the Met and to dine at her favorite Brazilian restaurant. She spent most Saturday afternoons in season listening to the Met radio broadcasts.
One of her hobbies was family genealogy. She was a direct descendent of Mayflower passengers John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. She was a member of the Chickasaw Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a life-long Democrat.
She was a student of the world and traveled extensively throughout Europe, South America, and Asia. She particularly enjoyed sharing her travels with her granddaughters. After the birth of her granddaughters, she became a gifted seamstress, handcrafting dresses for them. Many of these dresses were entered in Mid-South Fair competition and most were awarded blue ribbons.
She was a special, spunky lady who will be dearly missed by her family and all who knew her.
A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Music Fund at St. Mary’s Cathedral, The Webb School, Bell Buckle, the University of Louisville Library, or Planned Parenthood.
