Betty Huff

Betty Jane (Shay) Huff of Cary, North Carolina died on October 4, 2012 after a long illness. Betty was born in 1923 in Shippenville, Pennsylvania to Colonel Howard Shay and Maude Rosetta (Hockman) Shay. Betty was the oldest of five children--the others being Ruby, Colonel Jr., Paul, and Jack. The family moved to Eldred, Pennsylvania in 1937, where her father worked in the Bradford oil fields. Betty was a graduate of Eldred High School and always loved this small community.

In 1947 she married George Reeder Huff, also from Eldred, after he returned from service in the Army Air Force during World War II. They were constant companions for 54 years. In 1954 they settled in nearby Derrick City, Pennsylvania with their daughter Patty. Their son Tom arrived the following year.

Betty was active in and taught Sunday School at the Derrick City United Methodist Church, and insisted that her children never miss a Sunday. In 1970 they moved to Anniston, Alabama when George was transferred by Dresser Manufacturing Company from Bradford. In Anniston, Betty worked as a bookkeeper for the John B. Lagarde Company for about 20 years until her retirement. She was a member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church for over 30 years.

After the death of her husband George, she moved to Cary, North Carolina to be closer to her son Tom and two of her grandchildren, Laura and Andy. In Cary, Betty was a member of the First United Methodist Church and regularly attended the Saturday night service. For the past year and a half, Betty was a resident of Heartfields at Cary.

Betty is survived by her daughter Patricia Ann Stromberg and son-in-law Dennis Craig Stromberg of Lemoyne, Pennsylvania; her son Thomas Reeder Huff and daughter-in-law Pamela Marler Huff of Cary, North Carolina; her grandchildren Shelly Ann O'Neal-Shugars of Pikesville, Maryland, Laura Ann Huff and Andrew Reeder Huff both of Cary, North Carolina; her youngest brother John (Jack) Richard Shay of Eldred, Pennsylvania and Largo, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Betty and George always called Eldred "home." At a later time, the family will travel to Pennsylvania and Betty will be interred in the Lamphier Cemetery in Eldred next to George. Memorial contributions may be sent to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, one of her preferred charities; the First United Methodist Church of Cary; Hospice of Wake County; or any other caring or medical related cause.