Bettie Eagleston (Mansfield)'s Obituary
Bettie Mae (Clouse) Eagleston, daughter of Florence Adam “Pete” Clouse and Ada Grace Clouse was born on May 29, 1925, in Webster County Missouri.
Bettie was so lost in Jesus, that she was oblivious to her true beauty as a petite, brown-eyed, blonde. It was during a Wednesday night prayer meeting at the Brush Arbor Church of God when the dazzling beauty swept her husband-to-be completely off his feet. Herman was totally in love with her for the rest of his life. They were married on June 28, 1945, in Springfield, MO. Herman went to his Heavenly Home a few short weeks before their 70th wedding anniversary.
Bettie grew up helping her father milk cows “by hand” and had some of the strongest hands and arms in the county, largely due to the task of hand milking 17 cows twice per day. Herman was the only person known to have “kneeled” her. After marriage, they settled on the family farm outside of Mansfield, Missouri, where they raised their two sons and Jersey cows. Bettie did her best to instill the necessity for a strong work ethic and for living a righteous life into her two boys. She was often heard to say, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right!” and “Remember, Jesus always sees what you are doing.”
A small stature did not prevent Bettie from carrying a 100 pound sack of feed on her hip, lifting bales of hay, driving tractors, milking cows, and tending to the cows & sows into the wee hours of the night during birthing seasons. She was one of the best cooks, mother, friend, and farm wife possible. All of the previous accomplishments paled in comparison to her total devotion to Jesus. Bettie was most serious about her walk with and being an example of her Savior and Lord. She gave her heart to Jesus at the tender age of 5 and stayed committed to Him until her last breath. Bettie loved to fish and go hear good preaching. As age caught up with her, she lost her desire to go fishing; however, she never lost the desire to attend church and hear the preacher! Even when she could hardly raise her head for eating, her head would lift and eyes would focus when preaching and gospel singing were being played on the laptop. Her last years of church attendance were at the Church of God (Holiness) in Fordland, Missouri. She will always be remembered as a regal, nurturing, kind-hearted, compassionate and selfless woman.
On June 18, 2017, at age 92, Bettie went on to her Heavenly Home. She died peacefully of natural causes in the home of her son Donald Eagleston of Ava, Missouri.
Bettie was the rock and fortress for the family. She is survived by her son Donald Eagleston, daughter-in-law Kayleen (Robert – deceased) Eagleston, granddaughters Nickole Donnelly and Karen (Justin) Dodson, grandson Jason (Autumn) Eagleston, eight great-grandchildren and her brother, David Clouse. Bettie’s departure in life was preceded by her husband Herman Eagleston, son Robert Lee Eagleston, her parents F.A. and Ada Clouse, one sister Lois Clouse and four brothers James, Kenneth, George, and Paul.
A memorial has been established to the Fordland Church of God.
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