Betty Jac Huffman

Betty Jac (Reece) Huffman, 78, of Altamont, died Sunday, October 19, 2014 at Sweet Life of Brookdale from recurring cancer in Overland Park, Kansas. She was born October 24, 1935 in rural Neosho County, Kansas to Irving Clifford "Jack" and Della Loretta (Baker) Reece. As a young girl, she attended Thayer Grade School and was a 1953 graduate of Thayer High School. At the age of 10, she was baptized in the Thayer Christian Church where she served as church accompanist during her high school years. From 1953 through 1955, Betty attended Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg where she earned a provisional teaching certificate. On July 29, 1955, she and Eldon Wesley Huffman were married at the Thayer Christian Church. While he served in the United States Army, she began her teaching career at Wellington, Kansas. After his honorable discharge from the service, they both were employed in Wellington schools until the birth of their first child. In 1960, they moved to Altamont where he was employed by Labette County Community High School. From 1972 through 1988, she rejoined the teaching profession with her Master's degree in Education while teaching at Altamont Grade School. Her service as accompanist continued in the Altamont Christian Church. She retired from that position in 2010 having served a total of 60 years. Survivors include one son, Curtis Huffman and his wife, Bev Cline, Oswego, KS; two daughters, Jana Unruh and husband, Jim, Overland Park, KS, and Nancy Tebbe and her husband, Chris, Belton, MO; eight grandchildren, Grant, Jillian, Ross, and Faith Unruh, Hannah and Reece Tebbe, Dr. Dena Carson, and Hunter Cline. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eldon Huffman, on August 13, 2008; and her parents. Private services have been held by her family at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont. Memorials are suggested to The 506 Foundation, Inc. or a Christian youth program of the donor's choice. These may be left at or mailed to the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Betty Jac Huffman, please visit our flower store.