Bettie Jean Logan Lehr, 91, passed away on March 2, 2024 at her home in Shalimar, Florida. Bettie was born October 13, 1932 in Dancy, Mississippi to the late George Ennis Logan and Ada Beatrice McCarter Logan. She attended and was baptized in the Church of Christ at Mt. Hope Church in Dancy, Mississippi. Bettie attended Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, Mississippi for three years. She married Lt. Donald E. Lehr on March 2, 1952 in Columbus, Mississippi.
She received the NAACP Award on November 9, 2013, Okaloosa County Democratic Organization Award for her many years of service, and she was recognized by the Air Force for her assistance with the Vietnamese Refugee Camp clothing tent in 1975. Bettie has lived in Denver, Colorado, Yakota AFB, Japan, Wichita Falls, Texas, Montgomery, Alabama, Orlando, Florida, Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Houston, Texas, Sunnyvale, California, and Shalimar, Florida.
Bettie was a member of the Garnier Beach Gardening Club, Okaloosa Democrats Club, Democratic Women’s Club, Democratic Executive Committee, Hootenany Social Club, Volunteer at AF Hospitals and Base Thrift Stores, Eglin AFB Officer’s Wives Club, Mah Jongg, Girl Scout leader, Longwood Elementary School volunteer, and Shalimar Little League volunteer.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Lt. Col. Donald E. Lehr, Sr.; brother-in-law, John W. Hensley; and grandson, Jason T. Leone.
She is survived by her children, Janet E. Lehr, MD, Donald E. Lehr, Jr. (Dianna), Karen A. Spencer (Phillip); grandchildren, Kristin Stankiewicz (Mark), Adam Lehr (Melissa), Alexander Leone (Maren), Benjamin Leone, Daniel Spencer (Allie), and Logan Meadows; great grandchildren, Leah Caro, Krista Caro, Carlyle Leone, Henry Leone, Everett Spencer, Graham Spencer; and her sibling, Melba Lee Logan Hensley.
There will be a visitation on Saturday, March 23, 2024 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. at Davis Watkins Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Rd NE in Fort Walton Beach, FL, with the Celebration of Life immediately following. There will be a graveside service on May 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Dancy, Mississippi.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Emerald Coast Hospice, 340 Beal Parkway NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, American Heart Association, www.heart.org, One Hopeful Place (local women’s shelter), 1564 N. Beal Extension, Fort Walton Beach FL 32547 or to Valvano.org (for cancer research).
