Betty Ezell, 86, of Chapel Hill, Tenn., died Tuesday evening, December 6, 2011. Mrs. Ezell was a native of Macomb, Ill. and was a daughter of the late Walter McKinley and Hazel West Adams.

During her life, she raised and showed Saddlebred horses and also was an equitation instructor. She also was a former equitation judge at the National Walking Horse Celebration. She was a life long member and past president of the Middle Tennessee Miniature Horse Association. Mrs. Ezell dedicated her life to teaching, having retired in 1993 after 40 years as a teacher at Forrest School in Chapel Hill, of which she was an avid supporter. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed. S Ezell, Jr. who died in 1997.

Mrs. Ezell is survived by daughters, Kris (Murrey) Holton and Dee Housch, both of Chapel Hill, Tenn.; sons, Jim (Judi) Ezell, Florence, Ala., Adam (Misty) Ezell, Murfreesboro, Tenn.; step-daughter, Betsy Benz, Chapel Hill, Tenn.; step-son, Sam Bailey Ezell, Duck River, Tenn.; grandchildren, Paige Housch, Brittany Ezell, Elizabeth McClaran, Reagan Fields, Brandon Ezell, Sara Rzemieniewski, Mary Williams, Charlie Cargile, Tyler Housch, Connor Housch, Ben Ezell, Olivia Ezell, Eddie Benz, Pisa Clark, Ronnie Benz and eleven great grandchildren.

Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at Lawrence Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2011 from the chapel of Lawrence Funeral Home with burial to follow in Swanson Cemetery in Chapel Hill.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Chapel Hill Elementary School Library, 415 South Horton Parkway, Chapel Hill, TN 37034 or Special Kids, Inc., in memory of Betty Ezell, 202 Arnette St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130.