Betty Yvonne Cardnell, 80, of Dunedin, Florida, formally of Homosassa, Florida, was born in Honaker, Kentucky on August 13, 1936. She passed away from natural causes on July 6, 2017 at Lakeside Oaks Care Center in Dunedin, Florida.
Betty was born as the 6th child of William Madison Meade and Cecilia "Pearl" Spivey of Floyd County, Kentucky. Betty attended Pikeville College, University of KY, and graduated from Morehead State Univ. with honors. She was known by her friends and family to be an excellent cook with a keen sense of humor. For many years she was an English teacher at Paul Blazer Highschool in Ashland, KY and later worked in the mental health and social work fields in both eastern KY and central FL. She was a published writer, photographer, and many of her photos captured the life of musicians, artists, and crafts people of Appalachia. She was a lover of books, literature, music, and world culture having many friends from around the world. She produced the film "Old Wine…New Bottles" at Morehead State University and worked closely with John Rice Irwin on several books chronicling mountain arts and crafts for the Museum of Appalachia in Tennessee.
Betty is survived by her two daughters, Dianna L. Sabo, Tonya S. Marshall, Step-daughters Claire "Candy" Lott, Jann Kanizar, Elizabeth "Beth" C. Nolan, and step-sons Michael # Poole, Mark "Skip" Poole, and James E. Cardnell, Jr. She is survived by her grandsons, Nicholas O. Thompson, Darin A. Bray, Dillan L. Madison Bray, Brennan J. Meccarielli, and her granddaughter, Ansley B. Meccarielli. She is also survived by her daughters' father and ex-husband Roger C. Marshall. She is survived by her sister, Gertrude Burke, and her brother, Claude E. Meade and his wife Roberta Meade, and her brother-in-law Ernest "Gabe" Sanders. In addition, Betty is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Betty was predeceased by her loving husband, James E. Cardnell, Sr., daughter, Heather Renee (Bray) Burnam, and step-daughter Catherine "Cathy" Wabbersen. She was also predeceased by her sisters, Olga McDavid and Douglas Sanders, and her brothers, Charles T. Meade and Joseph P. Meade.
Betty's family will receive friends on August 12, 2017 at 1:00-3:00pm at O'Brien/Sullivan Funeral Home in Novi, MI. A "Celebration of Life" Memorial will follow at 3:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial gift to the Jesse Stuart Foundation, 4440 13th Street, Ashland, KY 41102 - Click here to contribute .