Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Reynolds Kuster

Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Reynolds Kuster, age 80, wife of Theodore Roosevelt “Teddy” Kuster Jr., died unexpectedly Saturday, June 10, 2023 at Harrison Memorial Hospital. She was born November 4, 1942 in Lexington, daughter of the late Edward Webster and Alice Brooks Dodge Reynolds. Betsy was a devoted wife, mother, aunt, and grandmother and was most happy when surrounded by family and friends at her beloved Hillside Farm.

She was a graduate of Bourbon County High School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Transylvania University where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority, a capella choir, and the Crimson yearbook staff. She married her high school beau, Teddy Kuster, in 1965. Betsy spent over 50 years running family farms and raising stakes winning thoroughbreds.

Betsy’s passion was preserving homes and heritage. She was a charter member, past president, vice president, and treasurer of Historic Paris-Bourbon County and was a recipient of the Mary Spears Van Meter Historic Preservation Award. Through her capable hands, she managed documentation of five National Register Rural Historic District nominations and served as a member of the Kentucky Heritage Council. She received the Blue Grass Trust’s John Wesley Hunt Award for lifetime preservation.

Betsy was a former troop leader, service unit chair and council board member for Wilderness Road Girl Scouts, past chairman of the Bourbon Community Hospital Board, Duncan Tavern Historic Center Board, Wright House Advisory Committee, Bourbon County Courthouse Centennial Committee, and past president of The Thorobreds. She was Regent of the Jemima Johnson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Honorary President General of the Colonial Daughters of the 17th Century, President of the Bluegrass Colony National Society of New England Women, Governor of the Jamestowne Society (Wilderness Road Colony), Vice President of the Dames of the Court of Honor, Honorary Senior State President of the Kentucky Society Children of the American Revolution, and Deputy Governor General of the First Families of Kentucky.

She was a constant fan of her grandchildren’s sports and activities, being found cheering on the sidelines, listening to piano recitals or helping raise funds for a worthy cause.

She was a devoted lifelong member of Paris First Presbyterian Church where she was elder, deacon, worship committee chairman, circle chairman, finance committee chairman, historian, and member of the choir.
Betsy is survived by her husband of 58 years, Teddy; two daughters, Rebecca Kenney Kuster (Sean) Ragland, Mary Webster Kuster (Seth) Litman; sister, Woodford Reynolds Henegar; sister-in-law, Kay Kuster Thomas; and grandchildren, Henry Theodore Litman, Abigail Sarah Litman, Samuel Webster Litman, and Woodford Kuster Ragland. She was preceded in death by a sister, Rebecca Dodge Reynolds, a brother, James Dodge Reynolds, and brothers-in-law, Edwin Clark Thomas and Albert Lewis Henegar.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 14, at Hillside Farm, 1165 North Middletown Road, Paris, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Funeral service will be held 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Jose Luis Casal and Rev. Sharon Fields officiating. Interment will be in the Paris Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Thomas Barrow Stephens, Matthew Koch, David Witt, David Lemaster, Mark Dawson, Caywood Prewitt, Perry Wornall, and Henry Hinkle. Honorary bearers will be Michael Leer, Rodes Shackelford Parrish, Carolyn and Gordon Krist, Elizabeth “Betty” Witt, Patricia “Pattie” Stephens, Catherine and Julian “Bo” Frank, Thomas Thornbury, Jeffrey Thornbury, Marjorie Collins, Judy Judy, Ann Haley, Sue McCracken, and Dorothy “Dot” Watson.

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Paris First Presbyterian Church, 517 Pleasant Street, Paris, KY 40361 or Historic Paris-Bourbon County, 800 Pleasant Street, Paris, KY 40361.

Hinton-Turner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.hintonturner.com