Rotarians remember Bettye’s ‘spirit, humor’
For many years Bettye Sisco sat at the back table during Rotary Club of Farragut meetings on Wednesdays in Fox Den Country Club, but she was never overlooked.
“We all will miss her spirit, her sense of humor, her delightful smile, her hearty laugh, her candor, her love for our community and Farragut, and her devotion and love for the Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Farragut,” said past president Tom King, the club’s public image chairman.
The highly respected president/CEO of Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce for 16 years who joined RCF in 2010, Ms. Sisco died Sunday evening, Feb. 19, following a 13-year battle with leukemia.
“Bettye was a wonderful and fun-loving person that will be sorely missed,” said RCF past president David Smoak, who also serves as Town administrator. “During her tenure as the Farragut Chamber president, she grew the organizations membership and her efforts helped businesses thrive in our area.”
RCF member Teri Jo Fox, co-owner of The Knox Fox Real Estate Group, recalls Ms. Sisco’s passion to help others.
“I think she was a wonderful woman and a great asset, for sure, to our community,” Fox said. “She will be deeply missed. She helped a lot of people in our community by being there for them, helping them grow their businesses and helping them understand how to grow their businesses and to network. She has been an inspiration to many.”
“She indeed was one of a kind, and her fight against her cancer and leukemia was valiant, and that’s good word to describe Bettye Sisco. She was a force,” King said.
“I lost a good friend last night,” said fellow Rotarian Sam Mishu, one of Ms. Sisco’s table mates at RCF meetings.
“When Jessica, my daughter, wanted to open her studio, she didn’t know anybody,” Mishu said. He called Ms. Sisco.
“Jessica loved Bettye, and I loved Bettye,” Mishu said, with a crack in his voice. “... She was an amazing person.”
