James Betts

James Finley Betts, age 73, of Elsie, Michigan, died Sunday, March 13, 2011 at University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie Chapel on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 11:00 A.M., Pastor Kathy Leydorf will officiate. Visitation will be held on from Tuesday, March 15, 2011 from 4-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel.

Jim was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on February 1, 1938, the son of Herbert A. and Weltha C. (Finley) Betts. He graduated from Elsie High School with the class of 1956. On February 11, 1961 he married Janet Jorae at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns, Michigan; they had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Jim was a letter carrier for the Post Office in Owosso for 30 years and he also had worked at MMPA in Ovid for 10 years. After his retirement, Jim worked at CarQuest in Owosso, delivering parts to local garages. He was an avid knife collector. He enjoyed spending his summers at Pretty Lake with his grandchildren and wintering in Lakeland, Florida. Jim was a member of the NRA and National Knife Collectors Association.

He is survived by his wife Janet Betts of Elsie, MI, two daughters; Brenda Betts of Champaign, IL and Michele Betts of Owosso, MI, two grandchildren; Hailee and Noah, one sister Nancy and Reg Gulick of Ithaca, MI, two brothers; Bud and Julie Betts of Harrison, MI, and Ron and Judy Betts of Owosso, MI, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents.

Memorials may be made to the Elsie Public Library, P.O. Box 545, Elsie, Michigan 48831. Online condolences may be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie Chapel Elsie, Michigan.

Read James Betts 's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.