Betty Morrow

Betty Morrow, 78, of Parsons, quietly passed away Monday, August 31, 2020, at her home.

Betty Elizabeth Gwartney was born on August 17, 1942, to Elmer D. and Mattie Marie (Bartlett) Gwartney in Mound Valley. As a young girl, she grew up and attended school in Mound Valley.

Besides Mound Valley, Betty lived in various places including Parsons, Altamont, and McCune, Kansas and Owasso, Bartlesville and South Coffeyville, Oklahoma. This Spring she settled again in Parsons. No matter where Betty lived, though, she was never far from her family. She was at her best being near her brothers and sister, as well as being a wife, mother, aunt and grandmother. Rarely did a week go by that she did not call to talk about something happening in the family, from someone getting a new job to someone coming to visit, and most recently to share her excitement about her trip to Idaho to visit her daughters, grandchildren and her newest great-granddaughter.

Betty had worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, as a nurse's aide at the hospital, Greaves Nu-Way, at a consignment shop in Coffeyville and as a home health care assistant.

She had been a member of the Parsons Nazarene Church.

Family was at the center of Betty's life. She spoke fondly about the times her large family would gather on her parents' farm with children playing, a bon fire roaring and the adults visiting and telling jokes. She was very creative. Her sense of style and fearlessness with a paintbrush and a roll of wallpaper saw the houses she lived in turned into warm and beautiful homes for her family. She learned to crochet, created porcelain dolls and crafted with a vengeance. Jewelry was her weakness, often stopping "just to look" at the jewelry section of any store she happened to be in and generously sharing with anyone who needed earrings or a necklace for a finishing touch. The many family memories that Betty shared with her children has instilled in them the importance of family that they strive to pass on to their own families.

On December 14, 1958, Betty and Raymond Ingram were married. The couple later divorced. In September 1984, Betty and John Morrow were married.

Survivors include:

Two daughters – Kimberly LaCrone and her husband, Tony, of Boise, Idaho

Cherie Ray of Boise, Idaho

One son – Raymond "Bucky" Ingram of Mound Valley, Kansas

Four grandsons – Seth LaCrone and his wife, Megan; Ross LaCrone and his wife, Kelly; Colton Ray and Bronson Ray

One - great-granddaughter – Miss Macie Ann LaCrone

Two brothers – Charles Gwartney of Parsons, Kansas

David Gwartney of Parsons, Kansas

Numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews

She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Edith Olson; and two brothers, Jim Gwartney and infant Clay Edward Gwartney.

There will be a graveside service at 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 7, 2020, at the Mound Valley Cemetery.