Betty Jean Lancaster

Betty Jean Lancaster, daughter of the late James Lucian and Ellen Beatrice (Blades) Souder, was born on September 15, 1932 in Wellington, Texas and departed this life on May 24, 2015 at Ozark Baptist Home in Ozark, Missouri. She was 82 years, 8 months, and 9 days of age.
Betty met the love of her life, Bobby Wayne, while attending school in Quail, Texas. They were married one day after her eighteenth birthday, because her parents wouldnt allow her to marry until she was eighteen. On September 16, 1950, Betty and Bob stood on the front porch of Bettys brothers home and made their life long vows to each other. They made a commitment that day that would stand the test of time. They learned to overcome many trials and shared a wonderful love for over sixty years.
Betty and Bob were blessed with three children: Ron, Diane, and Joel. When the kids were young they moved to Perryton, Texas, and there they met their next door neighbors, Dub and Shirley Neuroth. The friendship these two families shared has endured almost half a century and a move from Texas to Missouri.
In 1967, they bought a farm in Missouri and moved their family to the community of Owens, just north of Norwood. Bob, Betty, and the kids worked long, hard days to clear the rough and rocky Missouri land and developed it into a nice farm.
Betty worked at the Brown Shoe Factory for many years. She loved to paint and enjoyed gardening and horseback riding. After retirement, Betty and Bob enjoyed traveling in Europe and seeing America in their travel trailer. They loved spending summers at Treasure Lake in Branson and always took turns taking the grandchildren, two at a time.
Besides her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her loving husband of over sixty years: Bobby Wayne Lancaster; four sisters: Mary Ellen Mitchell, Frances Sasser, Margaret Reese, and Bonnie Joyce Souder; and one brother: J.L. Souder.
She is survived by two sons: Ron Lancaster and his wife, Wilma, of Mansfield, Missouri, and Joel Lancaster and his wife, Tonya, of Norwood, Missouri; one daughter: Diane Adams of Marshfield, Missouri; one brother: Perry Souder of Altus, Oklahoma; four sisters: Annie Spear of Amarillo, Texas, Ruby Dell Pitts of Amarillo, Texas, Tommie Neeley of Amarillo, Texas, and Connie Kay James of Roswell, New Mexico; six grandchildren: Nicki Evans and her husband, Josh, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Ryan Adams of St. Louis, Missouri, Erin Adams of Springfield, Missouri, Clinton Lancaster and his wife, Emily, of Norwood, Missouri, Dulci Lancaster of Springfield, Missouri, and Whitley Lancaster of Springfield, Missouri; three step-grandsons: Matthew Shannon and his wife, Christina, of Lebanon, Nathan Shannon and Joshua Shannon both of Mountain Grove, Missouri; two step-granddaughters: Brooke Dennis of Mansfield, Missouri and Michelle Gallion of Strafford, Missouri; seven great-grandchildren: Alissa, Tosha, Logan, Cooper, Kai, Harley, Blaine, and Brandon; and a host of other family and friends that will greatly miss her.


Visitation: Thursday, May 28, 2015 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the 1st Baptist Church in Mountain Grove.

Funeral Service: Thursday, May 28, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the 1st Baptist Church in Mountain Grove.

Burial: Rock Chapel Cemetery

Memorial Contributions: Ozark Baptist Home c/o the funeral home