Betty Monroe

Betty L. Davenport Young Monroe, age 84, passed away peacefully very early on Sunday morning, August 18, 2024 at her home. She was surrounded by loving family. Betty was born in Wallins Creek, Harlan County, KY on September 22, 1939, to Charles Virgil and Mary Belle (Davis) Davenport. Betty grew up in Southern Indiana and was a 1957 graduate of the old Jeffersonville High School. She lived and worked in Louisville, KY for 3 years prior to her marriage to her high school sweetheart, Monte Eugene Young on July 16, 1960. They were happily married for 37 years before his passing on November 1, 1997.

They were the loving parents of 4 children whom they leave behind including Greg Young, Chris Young, Julie Hendrix and Amy Guidry (David). She also leaves behind a cherished sister who was also her best friend, Shirley (aka “Cookie”), her youngest brother Curtis Davenport and her dear sister-in-law Pat Norman.

Betty was a free-lance secretary until 1980 when she was hired by the Main Branch of the Louisville Post Office on Gardiner Lane. During the 8 years she was employed there, she served as program manager for the local Toastmasters Club, secretary of the Upward Mobility Program for Women and also acted as editor of the Louisville District Employee Newsletter, for which she received a national award. She also was a Red Cross Volunteer with training for the Disaster Relief Chapter of Louisville, KY. She was also a member of Graceland Baptist Church and the family wishes to give special thanks to John Pearce and Bill Hinton. Their visits and prayers were such a comfort to her.

In 1988 Betty moved with her husband, Monte and youngest daughter, Amy, to Mammoth Cave (Nolin Lake), KY where Betty was appointed postmaster of Wax, KY. She also served as postmaster replacement at Canmer, KY; Summit, KY; Lindseyville, KY; and Park City, KY until she was appointed as permanent postmaster at Clarkson, KY in 1993 until 1997. She talked often about her time at Clarkson and how much she loved and missed all of the people there. She retired early, in 1997, to care for her husband, Monte, until he passed from a long battle with cancer later that year. 

In 2001, she was remarried to Frank Monroe of New Albany, IN until his death on July 4, 2022. 

During her lifetime, Betty enjoyed square dancing (where she met Monte through their mutual friend Dale Wesley), Folk Dancing, Ballroom Dancing, Roller Skating, Bowling on a league, Playing in Euchre tournaments at her late brother, Bobby’s house and she LOVED board games. She was a wicked opponent at Scrabble due to her lifetime history of being a voracious reader. Everyone knows she loved her books and loved to share her love of books by giving them away to family and friends whom she knew would love them as she did. Her favorite room in her home was her “library” with multiple bookcases filled to the brim with her beloved books. 

Betty’s greatest joy in life besides books, was her family, whom she loved so very much. In addition to Betty and Monte’s 4 children, she leaves 11 grandchildren including Jessica Hooper (Justin), Christopher (Topher) Young, Chelsea (“Pickle”) Young, Emily Young, Carla Marlin, (Alex), Lori Landgrebe, Andrew Logsdon (Kelly), Jacob Samples, Alana Guidry, Abbey Guidry, and Addison Guidry and 15 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her oldest brother Bobby Davenport, 2 grandsons, David Young (Greg) and Jared Samples (Julie), and her brother-in-law, Stan Applegate (Shirley).

She also wanted to acknowledge her former Daughter-in- Laws Glenda Young (Chris) and Corine Landgrebe (Greg) and former son-in-law Steve Samples (Julie) who remain a cherished part of our family.

The family would also like to give a special acknowledgement to St. Croix Hospice Care and specifically to her nurses Cindy Willis and Toni Jones who were not only excellent nurses, but also became cherished friends, TC her chaplain and Elizabeth her social worker who were always so very kind, patient and caring. Thank you for all that you do. She loved you all.

Visitation will be from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions (3309 Ballard Lane, New Albany, IN 47150). Her Funeral Service will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday at the funeral home with burial to follow at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Jeffersonville. 

If you would like to make expressions of sympathy in the form of a donation, in lieu of flowers, Betty’s favorite charities were St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The Salvation Army and the Make A Wish Foundation of Kentuckiana. 

Please consider sharing a memory of Betty or leaving a special message for her family by completing the Online Guestbook below.