Betty Jean Emberton, age 99, died January 17, 2022, in Oro Valley,
Arizona. She was born, June 13, 1922, in Elkhart, Kansas, the daughter
of John Everett and Helen (Haines) McCormick.
Betty Jean’s family moved to Scott City, Kansas, just before Betty
Jean’s freshman year. She was an award-winning Bassoonist in the high
school music department and concert band. In her junior year, her
family moved to Hotchkiss, Colorado. After graduation, she attended
Western State College. After World War II, she returned to Western
State College and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and a
minor in Music. She taught grade school in Grand Junction, Colorado,
and also played the Bassoon in the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra.
After two years, Betty Jean returned to Elkhart and took a teaching job
at Elkhart Elementary School. Betty Jean married Ted Emberton. They
later moved to Hugoton and she began her 50 years teaching first grade;
sharing her kindness with many young lives. Betty Jean was awarded the
Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame honor; Hugoton’s Woman of the Year; was
instrumental in establishing the Hugoton PEO chapter and was their first
president. She was dedicated to Hugoton Baptist Church and was their
organist for 50 years. Betty Jean had the opportunity to travel to
Europe on several occasions, and visit her sister and her husband in
southern California. At 92, Betty Jean relocated to an assisted and
independent living facility in Tucson, Arizona, to be near her niece Von
Ceil and her husband Jim.
She is survived by her sister, Barbara Lou Johnson of Yucaipa,
California; nieces, Monzell Emberton McFaddin of San Ramon, California,
Von Ceil Emberton Bleese and husband Jim of Tucson, Arizona, Michelle
Emberton Dorsey of Douglas, Wyoming, and Susan Mitchell and husband Tony
of Lawrence, Kansas; and many friends.
Betty Jean was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Ted in the spring of 1978.
Graveside service will be at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at
the Elkhart Cemetery in Elkhart, Kansas, with Jim Bleese officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the High Plains Theatre in care of
Garnand Funeral Home, 423 S. Main St., Hugoton, KS 67951. Condolences
may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.