Obituary for Betty Ann Stevens
On Valentine’s Day, a day known for love, roses and all things sweet, Betty Ann Stevens passed peacefully from this world in the early morning hours at the home of her daughter, and caregiver, Dianna.
Born in Crescent Springs, Kentucky on August 9, 1932, she was the daughter of Charles Frank “Kinny” Niemeyer and Ella Emma Deglow Niemeyer.
Betty graduated from Dixie Heights High School where she was a cheerleader and newspaper editor. She attended UK Extension "on the hill" in Covington, as a Journalism major, and served on UK’s Student Council. She worked for Cincinnati Bell, was a substitute teacher for Boone and Kenton County Schools, ran a daycare from her home, and retired as an administrative assistant from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division of Air Quality. After retiring to Osprey, Florida, she worked for Davidson’s Drugstore and the Green Turtle on Siesta Key.
Betty was a member of Crescent Springs Presbyterian Church as a youth, and taught Sunday School while attending Union Presbyterian Church. She also directed the children’s choir at Florence Christian Church.
Betty played accordion and piano from a young age and continued as an adult playing at church services, special functions, and for pure pleasure. Born with perfect pitch -a 1/10,000 rarity-she could play anything by ear. Her musical talent allowed her to teach piano, as well as guitar lessons, though she never played a guitar (none of her students knew). Betty took tap and ballet lessons as a child, attending Ziegler’s Dance Studio. She was also an accomplished seamstress, making clothes, costumes, curtains, and bridesmaid dresses, as well as a tackling a reupholstering project.
Quite a lover for the arts, she enjoyed numerous operas at both Cincinnati Music Hall, and the Sarasota Opera House. Puccini was her favorite composer; Madame Butterfly, her favorite opera.
Her visits to the opera as well as those to the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Ringling Museum and Ca’ d’Zan in Sarasota, Florida, were often shared with a child or grandchild, as it was her desire to instill in them an appreciation for the arts.
An aesthete of the beauty nature provides, Betty was a talented gardener who created beautiful gardens at both her Woodland Ave. home in Florence, and her courtyard garden in Osprey.
Always young at heart, Betty dressed youthfully, and thought youthfully. She was active and had lots of energy. She cherished her Hugger Orange ‘69 Firebird convertible that she affectionally referred to as her “5th Child.” Though a Led Zeppelin CD was the last she listened to just weeks before she passed, she enjoyed many genres of music throughout her life including jazz standards, classic country (Hank Williams era), bluegrass, and many a time, attended jazz clubs, discotheques, and bluegrass jams and festivals.
Betty was an avid reader; biographies were her books of choice. She was also a crossword puzzle enthusiast, crossword creator Merl Reagle’s humorous puzzles were her favorite.
Betty took joy in watching performances by NFL’s Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes. She was also a devoted fan of NBA’s Steph Curry.
"Betty Ann” was predeceased by her brother Calvin Lee Niemeyer who passed away unexpectedly in 1948, at the age of 20. She is survived by daughters Dixie Stevens and Dianna Stevens; sons Richard Stevens and John (Karen) Stevens; Grandchildren Nicole Perrone (Josh Dorsey), Hunter Bridewell, Adriane Marie, Stacey Bridewell (James Evans), John Roebker, Sarah Stevens, and Jett Stevens, and Great-grandchild, Aiden Dorsey.
A private graveside service for the family will be held in May at Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, where she will be interred with her brother, Calvin.
Born in Crescent Springs, Kentucky on August 9, 1932, she was the daughter of Charles Frank “Kinny” Niemeyer and Ella Emma Deglow Niemeyer.
Betty graduated from Dixie Heights High School where she was a cheerleader and newspaper editor. She attended UK Extension "on the hill" in Covington, as a Journalism major, and served on UK’s Student Council. She worked for Cincinnati Bell, was a substitute teacher for Boone and Kenton County Schools, ran a daycare from her home, and retired as an administrative assistant from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division of Air Quality. After retiring to Osprey, Florida, she worked for Davidson’s Drugstore and the Green Turtle on Siesta Key.
Betty was a member of Crescent Springs Presbyterian Church as a youth, and taught Sunday School while attending Union Presbyterian Church. She also directed the children’s choir at Florence Christian Church.
Betty played accordion and piano from a young age and continued as an adult playing at church services, special functions, and for pure pleasure. Born with perfect pitch -a 1/10,000 rarity-she could play anything by ear. Her musical talent allowed her to teach piano, as well as guitar lessons, though she never played a guitar (none of her students knew). Betty took tap and ballet lessons as a child, attending Ziegler’s Dance Studio. She was also an accomplished seamstress, making clothes, costumes, curtains, and bridesmaid dresses, as well as a tackling a reupholstering project.
Quite a lover for the arts, she enjoyed numerous operas at both Cincinnati Music Hall, and the Sarasota Opera House. Puccini was her favorite composer; Madame Butterfly, her favorite opera.
Her visits to the opera as well as those to the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Ringling Museum and Ca’ d’Zan in Sarasota, Florida, were often shared with a child or grandchild, as it was her desire to instill in them an appreciation for the arts.
An aesthete of the beauty nature provides, Betty was a talented gardener who created beautiful gardens at both her Woodland Ave. home in Florence, and her courtyard garden in Osprey.
Always young at heart, Betty dressed youthfully, and thought youthfully. She was active and had lots of energy. She cherished her Hugger Orange ‘69 Firebird convertible that she affectionally referred to as her “5th Child.” Though a Led Zeppelin CD was the last she listened to just weeks before she passed, she enjoyed many genres of music throughout her life including jazz standards, classic country (Hank Williams era), bluegrass, and many a time, attended jazz clubs, discotheques, and bluegrass jams and festivals.
Betty was an avid reader; biographies were her books of choice. She was also a crossword puzzle enthusiast, crossword creator Merl Reagle’s humorous puzzles were her favorite.
Betty took joy in watching performances by NFL’s Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes. She was also a devoted fan of NBA’s Steph Curry.
"Betty Ann” was predeceased by her brother Calvin Lee Niemeyer who passed away unexpectedly in 1948, at the age of 20. She is survived by daughters Dixie Stevens and Dianna Stevens; sons Richard Stevens and John (Karen) Stevens; Grandchildren Nicole Perrone (Josh Dorsey), Hunter Bridewell, Adriane Marie, Stacey Bridewell (James Evans), John Roebker, Sarah Stevens, and Jett Stevens, and Great-grandchild, Aiden Dorsey.
A private graveside service for the family will be held in May at Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, where she will be interred with her brother, Calvin.