Obituary of Betty Jo Cuppett

Betty Jo Cuppett, 97, passed away on March 28, 2023, at Bowers Hospice House, Beckley, West Virginia. Betty Jo was born on December 11, 1925, in Terra Alta, WV, daughter of the late Joseph Marshall and Clarice Virginia Messenger Everly. She was a member of the Princeton, WV community since 1962.

Betty Jo graduated from Terra Alta High School and Potomac State School of West Virginia University (now Potomac State College) where she received an associate degree in secretarial science in 1945. Upon graduation from Potomac State, she worked for the U.S. General Accounting Office in Washington, DC.

She married Donald Cuppett of Cranesville, WV, on January 20, 1946, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Oakland, Maryland. They were devoted partners until his death on January 9, 1983.

Betty Jo was a member of the Princeton Presbyterian Church. She was a loyal WVU football and basketball fan. An accomplished pianist in her youth, she played, by memory, the final solo of her Potomac State applied piano recital, “Holiday for Strings.” In high school, she accompanied an operetta, The Ghost of Lollypop-Bay, that featured a solo by her future husband Don; she also played saxophone in the marching band.

She loved animals and especially adored ducks and rabbits, and always hoped to see a black bear in her back yard. She was a lifelong avid reader until her final years, and loved jigsaw puzzles, listening to music, and the Christmas season. She was beloved by her family and will be remembered as a loving and selfless mother and grandmother who always maintained the most welcoming home for all.

Betty Jo is survived by daughters Cheryl Fearer (Jim) of Terra Alta, Deborah Chase (fiancé Frank) of Morgantown, Cathy Shorter (Fred) of Princeton, and son Donald Cuppett, Jr. (Hisako) of New York City; grandsons Todd Fearer, Koki Watanabe Cuppett, Matthew Chase, Jonathan Shorter and Ryan Shorter; granddaughters Melissa Snow, Elisha Cuppett Doss, Luli Watanabe Cuppett, Audrey Hime and Emilee Huffman; thirteen great-grandchildren; brother Ronald Everly of Fort Myers, FL; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by sisters June Frazee and Shirley Hardesty.

Family and friends will be received at the Arthur H. Wright Funeral Home, Terra Alta on Sunday, April 2, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at 3:00 p.m. with Rev. Don Savage officiating. Burial will follow in the Terra Alta Cemetery. Seaver Funeral Service, Inc. is in charge of Betty's arrangements. 

The family wishes to thank the Assisted Living staff of Stonerise Princeton (Glenwood Healthcare Center) for its exceptional care of Betty Jo for several years, and to thank the staff of Bowers Hospice House for its wonderful care in her final days. The family also wishes to acknowledge the compassionate assistance of Seaver Funeral Service, Inc. of Princeton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty Jo’s memory to Princeton Presbyterian Church, 1809 W. Main St., Princeton, WV 24740 or to an organization of your choice. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.seaverfuneralservice.com.