IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.
Betty Sebree
Elizabeth Anne “Betty” Sebree, 90, passed away on Friday, December 30, 2016, in Newton, Kansas.
Betty was born to parents Donald Mellon and Helen Stephens Hess of Peabody. She attended primary and secondary schools in Peabody until graduation in 1944.
During high school she worked at the local drug store as a soda jerk. As many soldiers were in town because of the prisoner of war camp, she claimed she had no fear walking home at night because many escorts were willing to walk her!
After graduation, she was selected due to her secretarial skills to travel to Washington, District of Columbia, and serve as a “government girl” during the balance of WWII.
In 1946 she married Fredrick “Jack” Sebree in Rising Sun, Indiana. She had met Jack during the war after the death of his older brother, Charles, who she had met while he was working as a guard at the prisoner of war camp.
They returned to Peabody sometime later and birthed three children: Sandra Sue (Watts), Bruce Randall and Tana Shay (Clegg).
She was quite active in Girl Scouting, starting with Sandy as leader. After a brief hiatus to help Bruce through Cub Scouts, serving as his den leader, she returned to Girl Scouting with Tana, continuing for 45 years and serving many years as cookie chair for the local troop and area council.
She was very proud of her many years helping the Methodist church in town as fourth grade Sunday School teacher.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents Don and Helen; her husband, Jack; her sister, Virginia (Hess) Becker; daughter Sandy; grandchildren Michael Todd Sebree, Denise Diane (Watts) Hamm, Wyatt Patrick Watts and Troy Scott Watts.
She is survived by son, Bruce; daughter, Tana; cherished brother-in-law William Jr. (and his wife, Barbara), living with them many years; son-in-law Larry Watts; daughter-in-law Marcia (Bloomer) Sebree; grandchildren Carrie Watts, Laura Sebree, Chris Sebree, Fredrick Sebree, Cathy Sebree, and Nathan Cleggl and many great- and great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was to have been at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, at the Peabody United Methodist Church.
Memorials can be made in Betty’s name to the Peabody Girl Scout organization or Peabody United Methodist Church.
Baker Funeral Home Peabody has charge. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com.