Betty Jean Ballou, 86, was called home to be with her Lord on Thursday, May 4, 2017. She was born November 24, 1930 to Elmer and Daisy Wood in Kansas City, Missouri. At six months old, her family moved to Osceola, Missouri, where she grew up and attended school. After WWII, she married her childhood sweetheart, Frank Cleo Ballou. They moved to Kansas City where she devoted her life to her family, raising three children, Danny, Diana, and Dale. She worked a short time at Reynolds Book Bindery. She loved cooking and baking for her family. She enjoyed the family gatherings where everyone especially loved her pies and desserts. She was an avid gardener, canning her own vegetables. She and her husband, Cleo, of 41 years loved traveling the States in their big suburban “old yeller” and made three trips to Alaska, several trips to Colorado, and Texas to hunt and fish. Their retirement years brought them back to Osceola in 1980 where she continued to garden, fish, and cook and bake memorable pies and cakes. She loved Jesus, reading and studying God’s Word. Betty lived a blessed life and she was a dear blessing to all who knew her. With her sweet, generous spirit, she was an encouraging friend to anyone with a need.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Cleo in 1987, her son, Danny Ballou in 1961, her parents, Elmer and Daisy Wood, brother Elmer, Jr, sister Mary Cauthon, brother John Wood, and sister Pauline Riley.
She is survived by her beloved daughter, Diana Ballou of the home and beloved son, Dale Ballou of Kansas City, and many nieces and nephews and friends who dearly loved her.
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