BETTY JO GILKEY

LAMAR- Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the Lamar Christian Church for Betty Jo Gilkey, 97, Lamar, who died Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. Burial will follow at Lake Cemetery in Lamar.

The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time on Tuesday, at the church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Daniel Funeral Home.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to the Lamar Christian Church Building Fund or the Barton County Senior Citizens Center, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include her son Steve Gilkey and wife Nancy; three grandchildren, John Gilkey and wife Abby, Courtney Gardner and husband Jeff and Katie Gilkey and Larry Seward; seven great-grandchildren, Jordin Mahsman and husband Jordan, Emily Dimond and husband John, Hannah Jeffries, Jack Gilkey, William Jeffries, Hattie Widhalm and husband Jack and Carter Young and one great-great grandchild, Rowan Dimond.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Gerald; two sisters, Opal Polston and Wilma "Shorty" Lincoln and two brothers, Jewell Medlin and Gerald Medlin.

Mrs. Gilkey was born Nov. 11, 1925, in Milford, to John Aldon Medlin and Lola Mae (Gardner) Medlin. She graduated from Sheldon High School and attended Southwest Missouri State Teacher’s College in Springfield, where she obtained her teaching certificate. She married Gerald William Gilkey on June 18, 1942, in Webb City.

Mrs. Gilkey dedicated her life to being a homemaker, wife and mother. During WWII she worked at a plane factory in Kansas City, Mo. She was a member of the Lamar Christian Church and taught Sunday school for 43 years. She was a member of PEO, the Rotary Anns, Eastern Star and was the first female board member of the Lamar Country Club. She was an avid golfer, enjoyed playing bridge and loved to travel with her husband.

Mrs. Gilkey, along with her husband, loved surprising Steve, Nancy, John, Courtney and Katie at Christmastime with numerous vacations throughout the years, which always included a fun packed itinerary with entertainment and educational tours at every destination. Mr. and Mrs. Gilkey’s final vacation included not only their son and daughter-in-law, but also their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This was an accomplishment that both of them were fortunate to achieve.

Mrs. Gilkey loved her family, church and the City of Lamar.