Betty Jo Snowden Harris
Betty Jo Snowden Harris, 88, died Tuesday, April 14, 2026, peacefully at her home with her son at her side and the “Dear Souls” of Hospice East Winchester close at hand.
Born Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1937, on Hayes Street in Winchester, at the home of her grandparents, James and Ella Snowden, she was the first daughter of proud parents Arthur and Orpha Martin Snowden.
She spent most of her preschool years with her maternal grandparents, Robert and Nora Martin, around Pilot in Powell County. She later started school at Becknerville in Clark County before moving to Mercer County with her parents, growing up on a farm in the Braxton area and attending McAfee School from the third through eleventh grade. Betty was a member of the first graduating class of the consolidated Mercer County High School in 1956.
Her first “non-farm” job was with General Shoe Company in Danville. She soon wed her childhood sweetheart, Bobby DeVary and started a family with the birth of a son and daughter. After eight years, Betty endured a broken marriage when divorce was not common, even scorned. Betty remained resilient, continuing the support and care of her children while working at Corning Glass Works. While there, she met and married Joe Harris. Joe and Betty moved to the coal fields of Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia during the “Early 70s Coal Boom.” Life was prosperous but Betty, not to be idle, held an administrative post for Appalachian Regional Hospitals while parenting her now teenage children.
In 1977, the couple lost everything in a catastrophic flood, their home lying on the bank of the Tug River. They “started over” by making the leap of relocating to Vero Beach, Fla.
Betty found employment, doing clerical work at a local bank, and in her spare time, discovered a newfound talent in art via interaction with her Floridian neighbors. She enrolled in an art class at a nearby community college, soon branching out into business courses. Four years later, she was employed by the Florida Department of Taxation, continuing art, primarily oil painting and making many new friends participating in area art guilds.
Florida was never really “home” though, so Betty and Joe eventually decided to return to the mountains and bluegrass of Kentucky. They missed the beauty of “big rock outcrops” along country roads, but also to be near their families and aging parents.
Betty was a lifelong practitioner of the Baptist Faith, a member of numerous congregations from Shackertown to Raccoon Creek, Indian River to Winchester.
Betty was very proud of her heritage, joining the DAR, Daughters of the American Revolution, during her later years, as a member of the Jemima Boone and Hart Chapters.
Betty Jo Snowden Harris, widow of Joseph Roy Harris, after over 50 devoted years, was also preceded in death by her parents, first husband, one daughter, Lois Ann Kline and one beloved granddaughter, Kyla Gabrielle Kline.
She is survived by her son, Lenual Steven Devary; a cherished grandson, Kyle; one sister, Carolyn Turner; one niece, Kay Simpson, four great-grandchildren and two great nieces.
Betty Jo wished to leave all her acquaintances with one thought “God Loves You All…even though some claim to be favorites.”
Services were held at Scobee Funeral Home and a private burial in Winchester Cemetery.
To sign the online guestbook visit www.ScobeeFuneralHome.com.
paid obit.
