Betty Jo Ebberts

Betty Jo Ebberts, 79, passed away Friday, September 25, 2015, at her home in Topeka, KS.

Betty was born November 17, 1935, at Munger Ranch near Eureka, KS. Betty was the youngest of eleven children born to Frank and Cova (Snuffer) Ball. Moving to Eureka as a child, she attended Mulberry Grade, Eureka Junior and Senior High schools, graduating in 1954. At an early age, Betty joined the Methodist Church, sang in the choir and became the Youth Choir Director. Betty loved music. In high school, she won many honors for the theatre and vocal activities. Betty attended Emporia State Teachers College and on June 12, 1956, married the love of her life, Ray. She was a homemaker, raising their three wonderful children. Once the children grew and attended school, she became an important member of the U.S.D. 244 Special Services team and held that position until she and her husband both retired.

Betty relished antiques and was encouraged and supported to "go into the business"…she did and for a number of years had booths in antique malls ranging in locations from Kansas City, Lansing, Topeka, Salina, and Abilene. Summer buying trips were Betty and Ray's vacations – always loving to do things together; she searched for those special treasures with a great history, once saying she bought antiques in 30 states – from east coast to the continental divide. She truly loved every minute of it. But, her truest love was her family. Being and sharing time with them was heaven on earth to her.

She leaves behind her loving husband of 60 years, Ray, who she frequently said would never take her to a dance but would take her on oil searching ventures in pastures unknown. But, to both of them, that togetherness in the middle of nowhere was the greatest dance of all; three loving children, Tammy Porter and her husband, Jim, of Yates Center, Bret Ebberts and his wife, Roxanne, of Berryton, and Steven Ebberts and his wife, Mendy, of Topeka, KS; four grandchildren, Brandon and his wife, Jessica, of Overland Park, Brent and his fiancée, Christina Seeley, of Topeka, and Lauren and Grant Ebberts; one great-grandson Grayson Porter; brother, Vernon Ball, of Eureka, KS; many cousins, nieces and nephews; two dear friends, Margaret Stewart, of Topeka and Geneva Strawn, of Tahlequah, OK.

A kind, generous and loving person with a multitude of friends: Today we honor and celebrate her life and so deeply grieve our loss.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2015, at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road, Topeka, KS. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The ALS Association, Mid-America Chapter, 6950 Squibb Road, Suite 210, Mission, KS 66202 or online at www.alsa-midamerica.org.

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