Mary Frances Betts

Mary Frances Betts, 94, of Clarksville, MO, passed away on Friday, June 7, 2024 at the Maple Grove Lodge in Louisiana, MO after a short illness. A visitation celebrating Mary Frances’ life will be on Thursday, June 13th from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. at the Collier Funeral Home in Louisiana, MO. Services will follow the visitation officiated by the Rev. Dan Page. Mary Frances was born on August 4, 1929 in Pike County, MO to Nathaniel Augustus Wamsley and Frances Cash Wamsley. She worked on the farm and milked cows, along with her mother, after her father died when she was only 17. She graduated form Louisiana High School in 1947. She worked at the Pike County Hospital for over 50 years. She started out as a nurses aid, became a respiratory therapist, then an EMT. She lived all but the first 4 years of her life on the family farm in the Clarksville area. She was a member of the Calumet Presbyterian Church, a 50+ year member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 370, and a member of the Elkettes Lodge #791. During her life she belonged and volunteered with many organizations. She liked people and going places. She enjoyed old friends and making new ones. In her younger days she was an avid horse lover and raised all her children around horses, as well as many other farm animals. She was always trying to help someone she thought was in need. In 1951, she married Robert A. Kleisner. To this union 2 girls were born. In 1961 she married Emmerson L. Betts. They were blessed with one son. She is survived by her children, Brenda Kleisner, Roberta (Clark) Pointer, and Allan (Barbara) Betts, 2 grandchildren, Brenton (Jessie) Stark and Dayton (Miranda) Betts, 5 great grandchildren, a step-daughter, Doris Dragon, and a special friend, J. B. Grothaus. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Emmerson Betts. Burial will be at the Greenwood Cemetery in Clarksville, MO. Pallbearers will be Wayne Baker, Joe Cloninger, Mike Love, David Meyers, Willard Wamsley, and Chris Wheeler. Memorials may be made to the Calumet Presbyterian Church in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent at collierfuneral.com.

Mary Frances Betts

August 4, 1929 - June 7, 2024