Betty Gideon

(From Daniel Funeral Home)

Betty Jean (McBride) Gideon, age 94, of Lamar, Missouri passed away at Good Shepherd Community Care and Rehabilitation in Lockwood, Missouri on November 28th, 2022 following a wonderful life.

Betty was born to Clifford and Zeta Jo (Boyd) McBride on August 7, 1927. She married Estel H. Gideon on January 28, 1948 in Lamar, Missouri. They celebrated 62 years of loving friendship and marriage.

Betty graduated from Lockwood High School in 1946. She worked as a domestic and international telephone operator and at Thieman Grocery Store during WWII. She worked at Jim Rogers Flies and Lures. She then graduated from Franklin Community College with a degree in nursing. Betty was on staff at Barton County Memorial Hospital until retirement.

She loved her hometown of Lamar. Betty always reached out to her community and church family, guided by this value to actively work to love and help others, especially the children. Her life reflected this focus, she served as the director of the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Program and Tiger Swim Team Coach (18+ years), LUMC Board of Director's, United Methodist Women, sunday school teacher, Gideon's International, Barton County Historical Society, Rebekahs Lodge, Barton County Republican Woman's Club, Meals on Wheels volunteer, Ladies Red Hat Coordinator, Senior Center supporter, J.O.Y. Fellowship, Fidelis Sunday School class and managing the century plus old Gideon Farm.

Her interests included, sewing, patio gardening, art and music appreciation, The Stone Throw Theater, bird watching, fishing, Bible study, country cooking, golf, the Lamar football tigers and the Kansas City Chiefs. She was a loyal partner to her sweet cat, Cali Jo, her lead caregiver.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Estel; sister, JoAnn Mayhugh, son-in-law, Ralph Zimmerman and half-sibling, Sue Landis.

Survivors include, son and daughter-in-law, Dr. David and Dr. Kathleen Gideon of Atlantic Beach, Florida and also of Mt. Vernon, Maine; daughter, Connie Gideon-Zimmerman of Springfield, Missouri; granddaughter, Jessica Zimmerman-Selvidge and husband Bryan Selvidge, of Springfield, MO; step-grandchildren, Carla Stanton and husband Richard of Webb City, Missouri; and Carl Zimmerman of Decatur, Illinois; great-grandchildren, Drew Zimmerman, Andi Stanton, Cody Zimmerman, Raven Freligh, Brooke Zimmerman and great great great-grandson, Avery Zimmerman; niece, Karel Hippert and husband Bill; half-siblings, Cora Lee Yeager and Evan McBride. Chosen family, DD and Lois Duncan, Carol Buffington and Cathy Rogers. She cared deeply for the Boyd, McBride, Landis and Zimmerman families. Betty will be missed by all who were blessed to call her friend.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 3, 2022 at the Lamar United Methodist Church in Lamar, Missouri, with burial to follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Golden City, Missouri.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m., until service time at the Lamar United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made payable to Lamar United Methodist Church or Gideon's International in care of Daniel Funeral Home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com