Obituary for Betty DeBoard

Betty Jean Markhart DeBoard, formerly of Braman, Oklahoma, died June 1, 2015, in Pekin, Illinois, at the age of 88 years.

Betty Jean Markhart DeBoard was born on April 8, 1927, in Kingman, Kansas, the third child of Frank and Maude (Dunsworth) Markhart. She spent her childhood and attended school in Kingman. In 1956, in answer to an ad in the newspaper to care for the children of Melvin DeBoard while he traveled with a custom harvest crew, she moved with her three children to the Blackwell-Braman area. On February 8, 1958, they married and made their home on their farm east of Braman. She was an active farm wife, driving the wheat truck to the elevator during harvest, helping with the cattle, and farm life in general. Following retirement, Melvin and Betty enjoyed fishing and camping with friends. Her husband preceded her in death on April 23, 2004, and she continued to make Braman her home until May of 2013 when she moved to Pekin, Illinois, to be with her daughter. Betty was a member of the Kay County Extension Homemakers and Vernon Township for over twenty-five years. In her earlier years, she enjoyed embroidery and needlework. She was known for her great cooking and canning skills, especially chicken and noodles, cheesecake and dill pickles. She attended professional candy making school and shared candies with family and friends. She was a member of the First Church of God in Blackwell and Ponca City, and most recently New Covenant Church of God in Mapleton, Illinois.

She is survived by four daughters, Faye Cleveland and husband Dale of Pekin, Illinois, Mary Davison and husband William of Norcross, Georgia, Rebecca Dixon and husband Raymond of Pekin, Illinois, and Melvina Aupperle of Braman; two sons, Leonard DeBoard and wife Billie of Blackwell and Max DeBoard of Corpus Christi, Texas; fifteen grandchildren, Connie Roe, Erica Schaar, Jennifer McCleary, Myra Deibler, Thomas Davison, Laura Holmes, Holly Dixon, Morgan Thompson, Braden Hensley, Rick Adamson, Melody Horton, Emily DeBoard, Zandra Horton, Nathan DeBoard and Allison DeBoard; twenty great grandchildren; eighteen great great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Larry Schaar and Roy DeBoard; two daughters, Margaret Schaar and Marilyn Adamson; a sister, Marie Metsker; and four brothers, Lester, Lawrence, Raymond and Robert Markhart.

Services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 6th in the Roberts and Son Funeral Home Chapel in Blackwell with Rev. Joe Thompson of the Elk City Church of God officiating. Burial will follow in the Braman Cemetery. The family will greet friends on Friday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Casketbearers will be Thomas Davison, Braden Hensley, Rick Adamson, Nathan DeBoard, Terry Markhart and Les Markhart. Serving as honorary casketbearers will be Brandon Roe, Wrangler Gee, Ron Markhart, Bobby Gene Markhart, Morgan Bergman, Orvan Grell and Rick Grell.

Memorials have been established in her honor with the Opportunity Center in Ponca City and the Braman Cemetery Association in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.