Bettye Young

Bettye Alverson Gass Young, 98, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, March 1, 2021.

Bettye was a longtime employee at Memorial Hospital, actually serving as secretary to the association that was planning the hospital back in the early 1950s before the first shovel of dirt was turned. Subsequently she was secretary to the Catholic hospital’s founding administrator, Sister Marie Victoria.

Following her employment there, Bettye was a volunteer at Memorial’s gift shop for an amazing 55 years. She was a member and past president of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

Bettye was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., on May 4, 1922, to Hoyt Pleasant Alverson and Naomi Harrington Alverson. At age 4, she was sent to Chattanooga to live with and be reared by her grandparents, Lewis Irvin Alverson and Myrtis Keown Alverson of Missionary Ridge.

She graduated in the 1940 class at Chattanooga High School.

Bettye was a strong Christian. She was a longtime member of Brainerd United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir for 18 years and attended the Friendship Class. Previously she was a member of First Baptist Church and sang in that choir.

She was very well-traveled including a trip around the globe, landing in many countries and cultures. She was a member and past president of the Kiwanis Auxiliary.

Bettye was very active in Republican politics. She was a member and past president of Hamilton County Republican Women. She was a presidential delegate when George H.W. Bush was elected and went with her husband to Bush’s inauguration, meeting and getting photographed with the new president and his wife.

Mrs. Young was preceded in death by husbands Dr. Orville Gass and later by Dr. George G. Young, both of Chattanooga; sisters, Marjorie (Hal) Watterson of Signal Mountain and Norma Cadwallader of Colorado Springs; step-daughters, Martha Walker and Christine (David) Cooper, both of Chattanooga.

She is survived by step-daughters, Dr. Robin Y. Wood, Boston, Ellen (Rick) McCashin and Maggie Hall, both of Chattanooga; niece, Kyle (Carl) Kessel, Signal Mountain; nephew, Mike Watterson, Chattanooga; several step-grandchildren; and great-nieces and great nephews.

A service for Mrs. Young will be held Thursday, March 4, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at Chattanooga National Cemetery with Elder David Cooper officiating. There will be no visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made to Brainerd United Methodist Church, 4315 Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411.

We respectfully request that all current mandates set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and the Hamilton County Health Department be adhered to. This includes “social distancing” and wearing masks at all times while on the premises.

Arrangements are under the care of Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Road, East Ridge, TN 37412.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com