We have lost a beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother who loved her family very much and cherished her friends greatly. She has left a legacy of giving to others, devoting herself to family and friends throughout her lifetime, and joyfully worshipping in her Christian faith.
Betty M. Arnce peacefully passed away on Sunday February 15 in Kansas City where she had resided for the past 6 years.
Born May 23, 1920 in Webb City, Mo, Betty Palmer Arnce spent almost her entire life in the Webb City/Joplin area. She graduated from Webb City High School in 1937, and then became a legal secretary as a young woman.
She married Harvey E. Arnce on October 16, 1944 upon his discharge from the Army. They settled for a short time in St. Louis where Harvey pursued an education for a career as a mortician. Returning to Webb City, Harvey joined the Johnson - Arnce - Simpson Mortuary and Betty devoted her time to raising her four children – Linda, Carol, Harvey Bruce, and Betty Anne - as well as beginning a life-long passion as a volunteer for organizations that she felt worthy. The family home was in Webb City until moving to Joplin in 1964 when Harvey purchased Parker Mortuary.
Early on, she became an avid volunteer for the Freeman Hospital Auxiliary, serving not only with weekly work hours at the hospital but also in numerous leadership positions. Betty was honored as Volunteer of the Year for 2004 and was recognized ultimately for over 40 years of continuous volunteer service to Freeman and she still kept her pink smock that she had worn so proudly.
She also focused her volunteer commitments on the schools attended by her children and her then home church – Frisco Church –serving as a Bible Class Teacher and director of several annual Vacation Bible Schools.
But Betty (and Harvey) enjoyed also a subsequent long time membership at Calvary Baptist Church, serving in many ways in support of the church as it grew, even including singing joyfully in the choir particularly later in her life. She was a marvelous baker and loved providing goodies to any event at church or at school.
Betty was the consummate seamstress, making clothes for her children often without a pattern, and later producing a number of quilts that are left for her family to enjoy. Her skills as a seamstress were often directed to projects for the Auxiliary at Freeman, making quilts to donate for an auction, or stockings caps for the newborns to wear home from the hospital.
Her other passion was her 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She (and Harvey until his death) happily traveled to the homes of her children - often with the focus of seeing beloved grandchildren. Later in life that passion for young children was evident in her laughter and gleam in her eye whenever she was in the company of babies and little ones, particularly new great grandchildren. Betty and Harvey spent many weeks traveling – not only in their travel trailer which was frequently full of grandchildren, but also all over the world. She took great pride in compiling a book of Missouri County Seat courthouses – every one of them in the whole state with pictures and descriptions – while camping throughout Missouri. Her artistic talents continued to shine throughout her life – even learning to paint in the very last years of her life. One of her paintings was selected for a juried auction at the Memories in the Making art auction sponsored by the Heart of American Alzheimer's Association chapter, after moving to Kansas City to be near her daughter Linda.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey Estel in 1986. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Goldie and Irene Palmer of Anchorage, Alaska, and her brothers Bob and Joe Palmer.
She is survived by her four children and their families:
• Daughter Linda Stewart and her husband Dan of Leawood, Kansas, and their family – their son Andy and wife Dulsey Stewart, Danny and DeLeighsey all of Springfield, Missouri - and their daughter Lauren and husband Ryan Chance and their children Lila and Clara of Mequon, Wisconsin;
• Daughter Carol Stults of Seattle, Washington and her family – her daughter Amy Stults Smith, Alexa and Emily of Houston, Texas, and her daughter Jennie Seaver, Sean and Aaron of Richland, WA;
• Son Harvey B. Arnce and his wife Annette and their family – their son David and wife Mikel Anne Arnce, Donovan and Lincoln, and their daughter Sarah Arnce all of Phoenix, AZ;
• Daughter Betty Gwaltney of Anchorage, Alaska and her family – her son Sean Gwaltney of Anchorage, and her son Brian and wife Cindy Gwaltney of Roseville, California.
She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and other extended family members who always enjoyed stopping by to see her at her Kentucky Avenue home and whom she welcomed with joy, often with a slice of pie or cake ready to share.
In order to honor our Mother, a Celebration of Life will be held at the Calvary Baptist Church on Saturday, February 28th at 1pm. We invite everyone to join us in a time of joyful remembrance for Betty Arnce and the life she led. Visitation with family members will be at the church immediately following the services. A private burial will be held separately.
Charitable donations may be made in her honor to the Freeman Hospital Auxiliary % Freeman Health System, Att: Linda McIntosh, 1102 W. 32nd Street, Joplin, MO 64804 or to Calvary Baptist Church of Joplin, or to the Heart of American Chapter - Alzheimer’s Association, 3846 W. 75th St., Prairie Village, KS 66208.
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