Betty Jean (Smith) Voss, 93
Betty Jean (Smith) Voss, 93, of Marion, passed away on April 27, 2026 surrounded by the love of her family. She joins her beloved husband of 66 years, Donald C. Voss of Wareham, with the Lord in Heaven. She was born in New Bedford on Mother’s Day, May 8th, 1932. Amid the hardships of the post-Depression era, Edith and Herbert Braley of Marion, opened their home to Betty and her brother George, raising them as their own children.
She met her future husband while attending Wareham High School. On their senior class trip, Betty and Don shared their first kiss at the base of the Washington Monument. They sealed their love on September 9th, 1951 at First Congregational Church of Marion.
In her teens, Betty worked as a fountain attendant at Browne's pharmacy in Marion and also as a roller skating attendant at a gasoline station. Three years after Betty and Don had their first child Sandra, they moved to St. Petersburg, Florida.
In her early 20s, Betty accepted several modeling job offers, doing various shows in nearby Clearwater for Montgomery Ward and for Wilson Chase Department Store on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. She became a long distance switchboard operator for General Telephone Company in St. Petersburg, while handling land taxi and offshore vessel calls.
In 1962, she was expecting her baby Ruth while working at Softwater Laundry in St. Petersburg. When she began to show, she was let go due to her "condition".
In the early 1970’s, Betty became a beautician after attending LeBaron Beauty Academy in New Bedford. After a time, Betty chose to switch careers and after graduating from Upper Cape Regional Vocational School in 1975, she began working at Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, MA. She also worked as a private nurse for several years. Betty truly cared for her patients as she held each of them very close to her heart.
Betty and her husband Don spent their years of retirement exploring the country in their motor home, spending winters in Florida and summers in New England to be with their friends and family.
To say Betty was 'multi-talented' would be an understatement. From the beautiful artistry of her oil paintings, her homemade freshly baked pies, or a quilt she lovingly gifted, the care she put into each one was immeasurable. She continually challenged herself to expand her interests by doing furniture restoration and carpentry, quilting, sewing, and floral arrangements for the church, among others.
Perhaps one of Betty’s greatest gifts was her voice. Whether it be as a soloist or as a church choir member, the sweetness and conviction of her voice sent a message of inspiration and brought joy to all.
Betty also frequently sang with a guitar accompanist her friend and server Scott at All American Assisted Living in Wareham. As a resident, she treated each person she met like family and was loved by everyone there.
Betty Jean attended Sunday School at Church of the Nazarene, when she was a young girl realizing later that a life of service to the Lord would be her calling.
Her faith in Christ and his teachings were unwavering and deeply rooted in her love and compassion for others. Although she faced many challenges in her lifetime, her spirit endured and her faith remained strong.
Betty is survived by her daughter, Sandra (Voss) Halley and her husband Gordon of Virginia, her son, Dana Voss and his wife Donna (Cregg) of Wareham, and her daughter, Ruth Voss and her partner Ken Shelton of Boston. She also had a fourth child, Cheryl Lynn Voss, who lived only for a brief time.
Betty’s brother, George Smith predeceased her and is survived by his two sons, Kenn Lane and his wife Beth of Oklahoma and Michael Moulder and his wife Emma of Texas. She is also survived by her sister, Judy Trapp of Alabama.
Betty is also survived by two granddaughters and two grandsons, four great granddaughters, and one great grandson, and one great great granddaughter and two great great grandsons as well as several nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life service for Betty will be held on Saturday, May 30th, at Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene, 6 Rogers Ave., Wareham, followed by a reception. Colorful attire is encouraged.
Donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in lieu of flowers.
