Betty June Peyton, age 85, formerly of Madisonville, KY, passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at her home in Charleston, SC.

She was born in her grandmother's home in Hopkins Co., KY on November 4, 1940, and was the eldest daughter of Helen Elvoree (Hart) Peyton and John Milton Peyton.

Betty was a secretary, now called administrative assistant, all her working life and was proud of her contributions to science through her work at the Field Museum of Natural History (Chicago, IL) and Brookfield Zoo (Brookfield, IL). When she moved to Charleston, she started working at Drayton Hall Plantation in 1989 and retired from there in 2003.

She assisted her mother in preparing typescript for Mrs. Peyton's three genealogical books, Some Early Pioneers of Western Kentucky, Their Ancestors and Descendants (1st edition, 1984; 2nd edition, 1990) and Isaac Davis and Elizabeth Kincheloe of Virginia: Their Ancestors and Descendants and Related Families (2005).  She enjoyed reading and listening to audio books, watching TV, and of course taking care of her dogs.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Robert Karl Johnson.

Betty is survived by her sister, Patricia Helen (Peyton) Johnson. Betty never married or had children.

A private burial will be held at Silent Run Cemetery in Nebo, KY. Harris Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.harrisfuneralinc.com