Bettye (Crabtree) Overton
Joe E. Overton
1908 N James St
Jacksonville AR 72076-2728
501.982.5604
Bio of Bettye Crabtree
I met Joe Overton when I was 21 years old. We were married on November 20, 1960. We
moved to Jacksonville, Arkansas on December1, 1965 and have been here ever since,. Joe went
to work for Redmond Motors. In January of 1966 I went to work for the State Education
Department. In 1967 our son, Joe Jr. was born.
I worked for awhile at the Union National Bank. When our son was 2 years old he came down
with spinal meningitis. We were very afraid we might lose him. So I took off until he was 4
years old and out of danger.
I went to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, starting in 1972 and went 2 ® years. When I
had to take biology, I dropped out. I wouldn't skin a cat or dissect a frog. But I went back in
1986 and finished my degree in 1991. I was very pleased that Alan Sugg personally gave me my
diploma. He and I walked arm in arm, and he asked me, "where's Mary Anne?" I said "Right
over there." And he said "Let's go see her." It was a real treat for us.
I have now worked in adult education for 34 years. I was teaching in Little Rock at the Pulaski
County Jail Work Center. It has been closed for renovations for the last two years. So I have
been testing at the Little Rock Adult Ed Center. I love my work, and I will continue to work as
long as I can.
Joe is now retired. He ran his own business, Southern Environmental Systems, for many years.
He designed and sold wastewater systems for industry. Joe grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi. He
is a graduate of Mississippi State University. But now he is a real Razorbacks fan. Since retiring
he has been doing some substitute teaching and really enjoys it.
Over the years Joe and I have done a lot of traveling. We have been to Hawaii, taken two
cruises, visited his family several times in southern Alabama. We have made a lot of trips to St
Louis. We are Cardinal fans. We are also big time Razorback fans. We have made a number of
trips around the SEC to see the Razorbacks play basketball.
Our son and wife and two grand children live in West Fork Arkansas. He works in Springdale
for Consolodated Electrical Distributors as an Automation Specialist. We have 3 grandchildren,
16, 8 and 6 years of age. The eldest is by his first marriage.
I will not be able to make the reunion, because I am having a hard time getting around right now.
I am going to have a knee replacement as soon as school is out. I was assaulted 7 years ago. I
was thrown out of my car onto concrete and fractured my left knee. I have had problems since.
Mary Anne actually drives me to work every morning, and picks me up in the afternoons.
I refuse to learn about computers, but Joe pulls up the web site, and I look at it from time to time.
I have a photograph of the sextet, Bonnie, Beverley, Sandra Jo, Louise, Sylvia and myself,
when we sang "The Halls of Ivy", and the "Graduation Prayer" at our reunion. I'll get a copy of
that to Jim to post on the site.