Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Schooler, Craig, MO, passed to a new life on February 22, 2014. For more than 97 years, she loved and laughed and rejoiced in her faith. Betty was born on August 27, 1916 in Omaha, NE. She was the oldest of 5 children born to Earl and Georgia Dean and spent her early years in the Benson area of Omaha, NE. Betty attended Park University in Parkville, MO, where she met her future husband Wilber Schooler. They were married on February 17, 1938 in Omaha and resided in Craig, MO throughout their married life. Betty and Wilber owned and operated Schooler's General Store and the Schooler Funeral Home. Betty loved to shop and enjoyed being the buyer of ready to wear, notions, piece goods and assorted trinkets and novelties for the store. She dearly loved the Craig community and was proud of the care and services that they were able to provide to grieving families through their funeral services. It was a heart-wrenching job in the small community where you knew and were friends with everyone. Following her husband's death in 1992, she sold the store and the funeral business. For the past 20 years, Betty served as the Operating Manager of Schooler Family Farms. She looked forward to driving around the farm observing the rise and fall of the Big Tarkio River, the planting and harvesting of corn and soybeans, conferring and planning with the outstanding farmers who provide the day-to-day farming operations. Since 2007, Betty resided at Brighton Gardens Assisted Living in Prairie Village, KS to be close to her Kansas City family and to her farming interests. Betty served on the Fairfax Drainage District and the Holt County Democratic Committee. She was active in the Craig Presbyterian Church and served on the session. Most importantly, she was a wonderful mother and best friend, loving sister and caring aunt. Although many of her Craig friends have already made the journey, she cherished the new friendships with residents, caregivers, and staff of Brighton Gardens. In recent years, bingo, book reviews, flower arranging and Friday afternoon socials became her favorite pastimes. Her husband Wilber, parents Earl and Georgia Dean, siblings Warren Dean, Morton Dean and Dorothy Hartman, and grandson David Dixon preceded her in death. Survivors include her sister Carol and husband Fred Matthies; and 3 daughters and their spouses: DeMaris (Dee) and Kenneth Davis; Jana and Dean Wilkinson; and Marla and Bill Dixon; 5 grandchildren: Tracy Davis Mackey, Nicole Hicks, Brad Wilkinson, Julie and Michael Dixon and 7 great- grandchildren. The family would like to thank the staff at Brighton Gardens and Continua Hospice for the care and compassion they showed to Betty. Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at the Craig Presbyterian Church followed by services at 2:00 p.m. with interment at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Fairfax, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Craig Presbyterian Church or the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery Association in care of the Schooler Funeral Home, P.O. Box 139, Fairfax, MO 64446.

Published in Kansas City Star on Feb. 26, 2014