Betty Lou Emery

Betty Lou Emery, 88, Deerfield, Mo., passed away on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, at her home, following a lengthy illness. Betty was born to Richard “Dick” E. and Susie (Shuhart) Saathoff on May 19, 1933, in Nevada, Mo.

Betty graduated from Nevada High School with the Class of 1951. After high school, she worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone in Nevada until 1955. Betty married her high school sweetheart, Kenneth Leon Emery on June 20, 1954. They moved to the farm in Deerfield in the spring of 1958 where she and Leon operated Emery & Sons Propane until 2000.

Betty was a devoted wife and a loving mother and grandmother. She loved playing cards, especially pitch, with her friends. She also loved cooking, sewing, participating in a bowling league, and later enjoyed traveling with Leon and their heating and air friends. She was a faithful volunteer in the NRMC Gift Shop, as well as a longtime member of the B.P.O. Does #564 in Nevada, the Eastern Star, and Church of God-Holiness.

Betty is survived by her son, Mike Emery, Deerfield, and her daughter, Kenna Clements, Deerfield; grandchildren, Aubrey Elkinton (Dusty), Moundville, David Klumpp (Joni), Deerfield, Jenny Emery, Nevada, Aaron Emery, Nevada; five great-grandchildren Halley Elkinton, Talya Elkinton, Caden Klumpp, Ryden Elkinton, and Sam Klumpp; one sister-in-law, Mona McDowell, Nevada; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to her husband, Leon, on March 19, 2021, Betty is preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Roy Saathoff and Richard Saathoff; two sisters, Pauline Hogsett and Virginia Fletchall; brother-in-law, Bill McDowell; and son-in-law, Larry Clements.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 21, at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Pastor Bill Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Deerfield Cemetery in Deerfield. Friends may call until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home.

Memorials in Betty Lou’s memory are suggested to the Deerfield Cemetery in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

Those in attendance will be asked to maintain social distancing and are asked to wear face masks to protect themselves and others.