Betty Katherine (Neal Hart) Farris Haley O'Donnell

Veteran of World War II
United States Naval Reserve, Women's Reserve
WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service)

Born "Katherine Lois Neal," biological daughter of Eugene F Neal and Laura Ellen Mefford.
Named "Betty Neal Hart" when adopted by father's sister Mrs. Harry (Florence Neal) Hart.

Marriages
1. To George Farris
On 14 Feb 1948 at Chicago, Illinois
2. To Charles Joseph Haley
On 13 Aug 1955 at Lancaster, California
Sacred Heart Church
3. To Vincent Arthur O'Donnell
On 23 Jun 1980 at Clark Co., Nevada

California Death Index
Name: Betty Hart Odonnell
Birth: 31 Jul 1918 Virginia
Death: 19 Jul 1989 Los Angeles Co.
Mother's Maiden Name: Mefford
Father's Surname: Neal
SSDI: Last Residence San Pedro, Los Angeles, California

Cemetery Records
Name: Betty Hart O'Donnell
Burial: 27 July 1989
Plot: Vista Del Monte 411, A

Death Notice
Betty Hart O'Donnell --Rosary and Mass were said today for Betty Hart O'Donnell, a San Pedro resident for 23 years. Born July 31, 1918, in Virginia, she died July 19, 1989. Mrs, O'Donnell was a member of the first graduating class of Waves, the women's branch of the U.S. Navy and a member of the Navy League (Mar Wave Counsel) and the Marine Corps League Auxiliary. Before moving to San Pedro, Mrs. O-Donnell lived in Lancaster and worked as a secretary and a medical records librarian. She is survived by her husband, Vincent; two sons, 2nd Lt. George Paul Farris of Thailand, and Charles Haley, Jr. of Columbia; a daughter, Laura Florence Ann Freedman of Sebastapol; a brother, William Neal of Wichita Falls, Texas; and four grandchildren. Rosary and Mass were said at 9 a.m. at Mary Star of the Sea Church, San Pedro, followed by burial at Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes. (News-Pilot, San Pedro, CA, Thurs., 27 July 1989, p. A7)

Ironton High School Yearbook, The Owl
Name: Betty Neal Hart
Commercial Course; G.A.A. 1-2-3-4; Girl Reserves 1-2-3-4
Senior Class of 1937
Yearbook Date: 1937
School: Ironton High School, Ironton, Ohio

Social Security Applications and Claims Index
Name: Betty Neal Hart Farris Haley O'Donnell
Birth: 31 Jul 1918 Norton, Virginia
Death: 19 Jul 1989
Father: Eugene F Neal
Mother: Laura E Mefford
Mar 1941: Listed Betty Neal Hart
Feb 1947: Listed Betty N Farris
Jan 1956: Listed Betty Hart Haley
Mar 1981: Listed Betty H ODonnell

California Marriage Certificate
Groom: First name "Charles," middle name "Joseph," last name "Haley;" 39; born Ohio; 2nd marriage; signature "Charles Joseph Haley."
Bride: First name "Betty," middle name "Neal," last name "Hart;" age 36; born Virginia; first marriage; signature "Betty Neal Hart."
Marriage Date: 13 Aug 1955
Marriage Place: Lancaster, Los Angeles, California
Officiator: Charles Kehoe Kennedy, Pastor, Sacred Heart Catholic Church
License: 25 July 1955 Los Angeles County
Bride/Groom's Residence: 48240 - 90th St, West Rt.2, Box 824, Lancaster, Los Angeles, California.
Groom's Father: Charles M. Haley, born Ohio
Groom's Mother: Mary Ann Gallagher, born Kentucky
Bride's Father: Eugene F. Neal, born Kentucky
Bride's Mother: Laura Ellen Mefford, born Kentucky

Nevada Marriage Index
Bride: Betty Hart Haley; resides California
Groom: Vincent Arthur Odonnell; resides California
Marriage Date: 23 Jun 1980 at Clark Co.
Officiant Type: Civil celebrant
Recorded Date: 27 Jun 1980 at Clark Co.
Book: 5980; Page: 61456

Virginia Birth Record
Name: Katherine Lois Neal
Birth: 31 Jul 1918 Norton, Wise, Virginia
Note: 1st child born to mother, 1 living
Father: Eugene Neal, 25, born KY; laborer
Mother: Laura Mefford, 20; born KY
Certificate Number: 1918034941
(note: now Norton is an independent city within the confines of Wise Co.)

Census
1930 Census, Ironton, Lawrence, Ohio; 423 So 8th Street
-Harry H Hart, head, 42, married age 29, born OH, parents OH, Painter, veteran WW, owns home $6000.
-Florence Hart, wife, 39, married age 26, b. OH, parents KY
-Betty* C Hart, daughter, 11, b. VA, parents OH

Bio (apparently from a merged duplicate memorial)
Born to Laura Ellen MEFFORD and Eugene Franklin "Gene" NEAL on 31 Jul 1918, in Wise County, Virginia. The family moved to Kanawha County, West Virginia around 1919 in search of a better life. Laura would give birth to a son William B. "Bill" (1920) and another daughter, Laura Gene (1925).

It was around that time young Catherine Lois was left in Ironton, Ohio to be raised by her paternal aunt, Florence NEAL, and her husband Harry HART. Henceforth, until marrying, she was known as Betty Neal Hart. With essentially two sets of parents Betty's emotions were conflicted. When she had her own daughter she would name her Laura Florence Ann after her two "mothers," the child's' second middle name stemmed from the baby's paternal grandmother.

Betty was always something of a rebel confiding to her eldest son she had started to smoke when she was seven. She attended Central Elementary and Ironton High School graduating with the Class of 193X [1937] before giving nursing school a shot. ...

One evening in 1939, Betty was out in a Marmet, West Virginia nightclub with Myrtle, the wife of her first cousin Clyde Wilson. She was approached by a young man with a pork-pie hat and a plaid suit who asked if he could buy her a drink. It must of have been one of the rare times Betty ever refused an offer of a drink. She replied she would prefer a candy bar.

Many boys may have found this strange, but this particular young man who worked in his family's ice cream factory was not taken back. This event marked the first meeting with George Farris, the man of whom she would often claim was the only man she ever really loved. A bold claim from a woman who over time would marry five husbands.

Like many young men, when faced with the winds of war her beau enlisted in the naval service of his country. Not to be undone Betty during WWII would enlist in the very first graduating class of the WAVES in support of her country and her love. She served at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Bethesda Navy Hospital, and New York. Attaining the rank of Pharmacist's Mate Third Class (PhM3C) Betty was the recipient of the Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.