Betty Lou Dean, 82, of Chester, passed away on November 7, 2009, with her three daughters at her side.

She was born on November 10, 1926, in Middleport, daughter of the late George and Mary Genheimer.

Betty was a member of the Chester United Methodist Church and Women’s Society. She graduated from Chester High School in 1944 and recently celebrated her 65th class reunion. Betty was a dairy farmer and member of Farm Bureau Council and Grange. An Ohio Master Gardener, she was a member of the Chester Garden Club, the Shade Valley Garden Club and was an accredited judge with the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs. A frequent award winner at state and county flower shows, she was well-known in this area for her creativity and presented flower arranging demonstrations throughout the state of Ohio.

She married Earl H. Dean in 1948 and he preceded her in death in 1979. She was also preceded in death by her parents and sister, Marie Koblentz.

She is survived by her three daughters and sons-in-law, Dale and Jennifer Machir, Marietta, Terry and Melanie Stethem, Chester, and Johnny and Denise Payne, Vinton. The joys of her life were her grandchildren, Jeff and Angi Stethem, Pomeroy, Sara and Matt Ritter, Maineville, Shanna and Brian Brichler, Wyoming, Ohio, Lisa Stethem, Mooresville, N.C., Shane and Maria Machir, Portland, Ore., Craig and Angie Payne, Waverly, Iowa, Scott and Jamie Payne, Vinton, and Beth and Joey Graham, Vinton; and her three great grandchildren, Ellie and Lainey Ritter and Cade Brichler. Also surviving are brothers and sisters-in-law, Woodrow, Lloyd, Bob and Elaine Dean and Betty Chevalier and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Anderson McDaniel Funeral Home in Pomeroy. Burial will follow at Meigs Memory Gardens.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Meigs County Garden Club Association, in care of Sheila Curtis, 63357 State Route 124, Long Bottom, Ohio 45743.

A registry is available on-line at www.andersonmcdaniel.com.