Ellen Morris Betts

Ellen Morris Betts, 83, of Morehead City, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at the Crystal Coast Hospice House.

A memorial service to honor Ellen’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 26th at Cape Carteret Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Kevin Clubb. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. A private luncheon will be held for the family. Ellen will be laid to rest privately at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville.

Ellen was born on October 3, 1941, in Marietta, Ohio, to the late Brainard and Irene Morris. On December 23, 1962, she married her forever love, Smoke Betts. They began a 28-year United States Air Force career beginning in Selma, Alabama where Ellen taught school. In 1964, they transferred to Beale Air Force Base in California where their 3 children were born.

In 1971, the family transferred to Merced, California and it was there that Ellen accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior while participating in a ladies Bible study. They transferred to Montgomery, Alabama in 1973 where Ellen often led wives’ functions for Smoke's students and hosted allied student families.

Ellen learned short-hand and note-taking and worked as a legal secretary. It was during that time that she single-handedly ran the home from 1977 through 1978 as Smoke was remotely deployed to Saudi Arabia. From 1978 through 1982 they were stationed at El Dorado Hills, California where Ellen enjoyed leading wives’ activities for the bomb squadron. She also served as the church secretary.

Their travels include being stationed in Fort Worth, Texas from 1982-1983, Shreveport, Louisiana from 1983-1984, Omaha, Nebraska from 1984-1986, and Washington, DC from 1986-1987 where she learned the Turkish language and the fundamentals of diplomatic duties. In 1987 they moved abroad, serving at the U.S. Embassy Ankara Turkey, where Ellen led a group of Turkish ladies learning English. During this time, she planned and hosted frequent dinner parties for diplomats from numerous countries. Ellen traveled throughout the majority of the Middle East until their departure in 1990.

With Smoke’s Air Force service completed in late 1990, they returned to Burke, Virginia where Ellen owned and operated a small bookstore for 8 to 9 years. She decided to sell the business after several robberies made it difficult to find and keep employees.

In 2002, the Betts built their retirement home in Cape Carteret, North Carolina, on Deer Creek. Ellen began Community Bible Study (CBS) while in Virginia and continued as a Core Leader during her time in Cape Carteret. She also sang in the Cape Carteret Baptist Church choir and with the ladies singing group, "Heart Notes." In 2022, the Betts downsized and moved to Brandywine Bay in Morehead City, North Carolina.

When Ellen wasn’t busy with military life, raising her family, and sharing God’s word, she loved to get lost in a good mysteries novel, work in her yard, do crosswords and watch her favorite gameshow, Jeopardy.

Those remaining to cherish her memory are her devoted husband, Smoke Betts; daughter, Shelley Lyn Conner of Clayton, NC; sons, William Morris Betts of Spokane, WA, and David Carlton Betts of Fishers, IN; and 6 grandchildren, Aaron Conner, Caleb Betts, Noah Betts, Nicholas Betts, Melissa Conner, and Ryan Betts.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the Crystal Coast Hospice House, P.O. Box 640, Newport, NC 28570.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.