Elizabeth J. "Bettye" Prigga, 89, of Sistersville, W.Va., passed away Dec. 6, 2011, at Sistersville General Hospital. She was born Dec. 3, 1922, in Sistersville, a daughter of the late Clarence C. Hickman and Helen (Lewis) Hickman.

Bettye was a 1940 graduate of SHS, and served as historian of the SHS Alumni Association. She was a 1944 graduate of the Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing and was a Registered Nurse and a Health Occupation Instructor at PRT.

She was a Presbyterian by faith. Bettye was the first woman to be elected in the State of West Virginia to a city council seat. She was a member of the Presbyterian Women's Association, a member of the Martha Washington Chapter #22, Order of the Eastern Star of Sistersville, the Rhododendron Twig, Volunteer at Sistersville General Hospital and she assisted with the billing and fund raising for the Sistersville EMS Squad. She was a co-owner of Hickman's Grocery and Pleasants County Teacher of the Year in 1989; she was a recent recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award. She is survived by her grandsons, David (Nancy) Prigga of Sistersville and Michael Prigga of Jena, La.; granddaughter, Suzanne (Kenneth) Stapleton of Jena, La.; great grandchildren, Katie Rowe, Mason Rowe, Hannah Stapleton and Jason Prigga; niece, Dana (Tim) Whaley of Ohio and nephew, Michael (Renee) Hickman of Sistersville.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold K. Prigga in 1989, her son, Harold K. Prigga, II in 1997 and her brother, Allen David Hickman in 1983.

Services will be Friday 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Sistersville with Rev. Colleen Griffith officiating. Visitation will be Thursday from 1-4 and 6-9 at Myers Funeral Home. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery.

Myers Funeral Home, Sistersville, WVa

(Bettye attended Olney Township High School her junior year only)