Betty Joyce Eaton, 95, of Bethany, Mo., passed away Friday, August 30, 2024, at a nursing home in Bethany.
Betty was born July 9, 1929, to Vernon “Bud” and Beulah (Clawson) FitzGearlds in a farmhouse on a hill in Harrison County, Missouri.
When Betty was in first grade, she attended school in Brooklyn, where her parents ran a store. For the next six years, she attended Piburn School while living on a farm. The family later moved back to Brooklyn to run the store again, and Betty attended 7th and 8th grades there. While in the 8th grade, Betty met and fell for a tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed boy named Cloyd Eaton. Betty’s parents then moved to Bethany, where Betty attended high school. She left in her second year to work at Wheeler’s Drug Store. The following year, Betty and Cloyd were married on June 9, 1945, in Troy, Kansas. In December 1946, they welcomed a daughter, and in 1950, a son was born.
Betty cherished her children, who made her proud. The family lived on a farm for 16 years before moving to Bethany, where Betty worked at Crestview Rest Home. She then worked at Wonder Bread for several years. Later, they moved to Liberty, Mo., where Cloyd was employed. Betty worked for Western Auto in Liberty for several years before moving to Excelsior Springs, Mo., where she continued working for Western Auto until a car accident ended her tenure there. After recovering, Betty worked at a hospital and later at True Value Hardware. After retiring, they moved back to Bethany to be closer to her mother. Betty worked her first summer back in Bethany in the office at Best Western before leaving that job. Betty and Cloyd traveled extensively in their trailer and spent several winters in Arizona.
In her early 50s, Betty took the G.E.D. test and earned her diploma. She wrote several poems, setting some to music, and always enjoyed singing. Betty was known for her positive outlook, finding good in everyone despite their flaws. She embraced the philosophy, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, but do it first.” She contributed to a program at a rest home for several years, always stating that making one person happy in a day made her happy as well. Betty lived a full and fulfilling life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and her husband, Cloyd, on February 3, 2008.
Survivors include her children, Delight Gibson and husband, Donald, and Kelly Eaton and wife, Ronoka; four grandchildren, Lonny Gibson and wife, Kimberley, Julie McMillian and husband, Jeff, Nicole Milford and husband, Allen, and MeLisa Cordill; and eight great-grandchildren, Cole and Caleb McMillian, Kaitlyn, Kyleigh, Collin, and Cooper Milford, and Harrison and Grace Cordill.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 3, at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, Mo. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery, Eagleville, Mo. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Highland Cemetery, in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424.
