Betty Louise Blakely

Betty Louise Blakely, age 70, the daughter of Clarence Wilson and Effie Juanita (Goodwin) Blakely was born Nov. 4, 1936, in Schell City, Mo., and passed from this life on Thursday, July 5, 2007, at her home near Sheldon after an 11-month illness with leukemia.

Betty attended school in Schell City graduating with the class of 1954. On Dec. 24, of that year she was united in marriage to Albert Harms Jr., and to this union two daughters and one son were born. Betty was a homemaker while the children were small, then worked for a time at the shirt factory in El Dorado Springs, Mo. But most of her working life was spent in the restaurants in Schell City both as a worker and then as an owner of Cousins Café. In her spare time, Betty enjoyed embroidery and camping and especially her grandchildren. She was an original member of the Modern Mothers Club, was actively involved in Schell City Community Betterment, and was a longtime member of the Schell City United Methodist Church. Her baptism took place in 1948, in a creek near Sanford Richards property.

Survivors include her son Larry Harms and his wife Sandy of Independence, Mo.; her daughter, Linda Robinson and her husband Art of Sheldon, Mo.; one brother, Junior Blakely and his wife Bonnie of Schell City; 11 grandchildren, cousins, other relatives and many, many friends. Aside from Junior and her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her infant daughter Deborah Ilene who passed away March 15, 1958.

Funeral services for Betty Louise Blakely were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 8, at the Schell City United Methodist Church with Gene Gray and the Rev. Connie Locke officiating. Musical selections were provided by Paula Gray and Madalyn Crocker. Pallbearers were Larry Dade, Terry Smith, Roger Dade, Kenny Hallam, Russell Souza, and Larry Applegate. Honorary pallbearers were David Souza, James Souza, John McConnell, Kenny McCoy, Sam Vantellman, Dennis Vantellman, Doug Vantellman, Eldo Rapp, Wade Rapp, Myron Rapp, Joseph Robinson, Paul Robinson and Brian Robinson. Interment was in the Green Lawn Cemetery in Schell City.

Memorials are suggested to Schell City Community Betterment.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City.