Betty Grace England, 81 of Kirksville and wife of David England, went to the lord Sunday morning June 16th, 2024 in her home with family at her side after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer. Betty was born June 4th, 1943 in Edina, Missouri to Olin and Grace Mason. Her life was dedicated to the love of her children and grandchildren and she was a strong Christian and believed that god would help her lead the way in life. She believed in providing her children a warm and clean home, healthy home-cooked meals and sending them to school every day with clean clothes. Her children were her number one priority in life and raising them the very best she could was foremost on her mind.
Betty had a natural talent for creating floral arrangements and often decorated her house with arrangements she created. In addition, every year in the front and back of her home you could see a variety of beautiful potted flower growing that she kept alive well into the late summer. And for those who visited her home she had glowing comments especially about her artificial floral arrangements. When the Walmart Supercenter first opened in Kirksville she applied for and was accepted for a part-time position in the flower shop. There was also a manager's position open that was never filled. Instead of working part-time hours she was regularly scheduled for full-time and because sales exceeded expectations a manager was never hired. However, as the full-time role was taking Betty away from her family obligations at home she left the position.
One of Betty's most satisfying accomplishments was helping her husband who was the Adair County United Way Drive Chairman. Dave asked Betty to take on the role of "running" the County portion of the drive. Not only did Adair County reach it's overall goal for the first time in several year but the county under Betty's hard work attained their goal.
Betty has on numerous occasions shared her story about how her husband Dave hired her at Hollister Incorporated in 1979 and two years later fired her. Her message to Dave was simple: "You fired me so you have to take car of me for the rest of my life." After a "lengthy" courtship Dave and Betty England were married in their home by the Honorable Adair County Associate Circuit Judge Joyce Otten March 18th, 1989. And Dave took care of Betty as both wife and best friend until she decided to join the lord.
Dave and Betty loved to go dancing to rock and roll music of the 50's and 60's and country two step. They attended the annual Buddy Holly dance in Clear Lake, Iowa in 2004 where many bands performed in recognition of 45 years since Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper died in that fateful plane crash outside of Clear Lake February 3rd, 1959. They danced two solid nights along with 2500 others in attendance from 17 states and 7 foreign countries.Dave brought SH-BOOM to Kirksville for the first of many Hollister Christmas Party Venues and in 1994 her started a long relationship with SH-BOOM at the annual Kirksville High School Alumni Association Dance. Betty would pull Dave to the dance floor and it was clear they would be inseparable for life. Betty had a chance to dance all night to the music of SH-BOOM at their final performance at Tan Tara Resort New Year's Eve 2014. But what Betty remembers the most is one of the last Hollister Christmas Party dances that featured a three-piece country band called Texas The Band with a lead singer by the name of Terry Fator. Terry went on to take his singing talents and ventriloquist act to win America's Got Talent in season 3 and now has a $100 million dollar contract in Las Vegas.
Betty and her husband Dave enjoyed many wonderful times together and were not only husband and wife but also best friends that provided an example of commitment and dedication.
Betty is survived by her husband Dave of Kirksville; Children: Tina Curtis (Dan) of Springfield, MO, Kevin Lowrance of Liberty, MO, Shane Lowrance of Liberty, MO, Sherry Grammer (Troy) of Searcy, AR, and Aaron Oshner of Dallas, TX; Step-son: Chief Petty Officer USNR Doug England of Fort Worth, TX; Grandchildren: Shana Curtis Johnson (Luis), Ethan Curtis, Hannah Lowrance, Hoyt Lowrance, Tory Grammer, and Shelby Davis; Great-Grandchildren; Barret Davis and Mia Davis; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her Parents, Olin and Grace Mason, Sisters, Marjorie Shanan and Mildred Hayden, and Brothers, Lonnie Mason, James Mason and Raymond Mason.
The Funeral service will be held Sunday, June 23rd, 2024 at 1 p.m. at Playle-Rimer-Millard Funeral Chapel in Kirksville with Pastor Larry Gibson officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Hills Cemetery. A Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 12- 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Dave wishes to provide thanks to the staff at the Missouri Cancer Association, Boone Hospital, and Hospice of Northeast Missouri. A special thanks goes to her longtime friend and Oncology Nurse Dusti Williams who spoke to Betty in her final hours and Betty responded by opening her eyes.
Family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations go to the American Cancer Society.
Funeral arrangements in the care of Playle-Rimer-Millard Funeral Chapel.
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