Betty Louise Martin (Humansville)'s Obituary
Betty Louise Francis was born on June 22, 1922 in Collins, Missouri and passed away peacefully at the Christian Care Center in Hermitage, Missouri on March 20,2019.
She was born to George and Lillian Francis, their firstborn child - soon to be the eldest of eight siblings: Jean, George, Jr., Wilma, Marilyn, Ralph, Joyce, Ronnie, and Bobby Joe.
Betty was preceded in death by her Father and Mother, George and Lillian. Her siblings- Jean, Wilma, Marilyn, Ralph, Joyce and Bobby Joe as well as her loving husband of 53 years, Earl Edward Martin.
Betty was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother. Her family was her prized possession. She was a hardworking, passionate figure of strength who never waned in her support or love of her family and who soldiered on, even when times were tough.
Betty personified what is now called America's Greatest Generation. She was born during the Roaring 20's, growing up during the Great Depression. She graduated Collins High School and as a young, brave girl moved away from the family home in a time of uncertainty, as America was on the cusp of entering the Second World War.
She went to work in Kansas City - At first, working in the food industry. However, as American geared up for war, she became part of the "Rosie the Riveter" movement and went to work at Lake City Ammunition Plant where she would meet the love of her life, Earl Edward Martin.
As Earl was preparing to serve his nation and entering the Marine Corp, Earl and Betty were married on March 21, 1943. As Earl left for duty in the Pacific, the couple was torn apart by war, leaving Betty faced with the responsibility of not only giving birth and raising a daughter, but giving birth and raising a daughter with the uncertainty of her husband's fate a constant reminder. While this was not an unusual story for the time, it does illustrate the amazing strength and resiliency of this woman.
Their first child, a daughter, was born in 1944. Their daughter, Diana Francis would be two years old before the family was reunited and Earl returned home. The newly reunited family made their home in Kansas City, Missouri - where Betty was a stay at home mom, raising their daughter while supporting her husband Earl in his sales career.Then, in 1957, life changed once again when they welcomed their first son, Daniel Edward, into their family.
Like many of us, they reached a point in their lives where they wanted to slow the pace of life and return to their early roots. So, in 1963, they moved the family to Collins, Missouri. Betty, always the worker, resumed her working career at the R&S Truck Stop - where she would remain employed until 1992, retiring as a manager.
Freshly retired, Betty and Earl now wanted to focus on enjoying their free time - moving to Humansville, Missouri in order to live out retirement and enjoy time with their growing family - which had blossomed from their two grown children to include 3 grandchildren and an additional great-grandson.
Earl passed away suddenly in July 1996. Betty remained in the family home until she moved to Butterfield Assisted Living in Bolivar, Missouri. Later, to be closer to her daughter Diana, she moved to the Christian Care Center in Hermitage, Missouri.
Betty attended and was saved and baptized in the Coon Creek Baptist Church. She maintained her Baptist faith throughout her lifetime.
Betty leaves a daughter, Diana Lasater of Wheatland, Missouri; a son, Dan Martin and daughter-in-law, Jeanie, of Springfield, Missouri; a grandson, David Ramsey and his wife Tila of Kansas City, Kansas; a grandson, Jacob Martin of Springfield, Missouri; a granddaughter, Julia and her husband Ryan Whitesel along with great-grandson, Isaiah Stassort of San Jose, California.
In her final years Betty was lovingly cared for by her daughter and best friend Diana.
She was strong.
She was determined.
She loved deeply.
And She will be missed forever.
Services will be held Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 1 PM at the Butler Funeral home in Humansville, MO with visitation an hour prior. Burial will be held at Humansville Cemetery.
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