Betty Yvonne Clemens, 89, of Kansas City, Kansas, formerly of Clinton, Missouri died Saturday evening, February 17, 2017 at her home with her family around her.
She was born November 6, 1928 on a farm in Lewis Station, Mo.; the daughter of Ernest “Bumpas” Purnell and Jeanette “Nettie” Ethel (Anders) Purnell. Her family lived in several places and by age 8 they had settled in Calhoun, Mo., where she graduated from the Calhoun High School in 1946. She began her employment with the International Shoe Factory in Windsor, Mo., the moved to Kansas City, KS., and soon after married James “Jim” Hearn in 1947 in Kansas City, KS. He preceded her in death on September 21, 1971. She later married Herbert “Herb” Dalton on October 26, 1974 and he preceded her in death on January 28, 1980. She married Ramon “Mitch” Mitchell on June 5, 1982 and he preceded her in death on May 9, 1984.
Betty worked as a catalogue clerk with Montgomery Wards for six years, then worked for the Board of Public Utilities for twenty-two years, retiring in 1990. Following her retirement she moved to Clinton, Mo., to be near her sisters and brother. She soon met a wonderful man, Estel Clemens. They married on July 12, 1993. He preceded her in death on October 28, 2010.
She was a member of the Osceola Community Church, Osceola, MO. She enjoyed cooking, embroidery, crosswords and cross stitching.
Surviving are two sons, Ernest “Ernie” Hearn and wife Velda, Kansas City, KS, and V.Dale Hearn and wife Donna, Edgerton, KS; one daughter, Sandra “Sandy” Paida, Merriam, KS; six grandchildren, Eric Hearn, Cory Lentz, Preston Hearn, Tiffany Burnau, Steven Hearn and Veronica Paida; eleven great-grandchildren, Mark Burnau, Jr., Victoria Burnau, Braxton Burnau, Shawn Hearn, Adalyn Hearn, Audrey Hearn, Hunter Hearn, Davis Hearn, Stephanie Rush, Chyenne Atchley and Cadence Wooge; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, John W. Purnell and Clifton “Gene” E. Purnell; and two sisters, Gladys L. Tise and Edna E. LaRue; and a son-in-law, Dwight Paida.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., just prior to the funeral service. Interment will be in the Vansant Road Cemetery, Clinton. The family suggests memorial gifts to the St. Luke’s Cardiology or the Osceola Community Church in Osceola, MO. These donations may be left in care of the funeral home.