Betty Ruth Graham passed away on Thursday, August 24, 2023. She was the daughter of Earl Shelton and Jessie Shackelford Shelton. Betty was born August 16, 1930, in Ft. Scott, Kansas. She attended Center School, northeast of Ft. Scott in 1935. She finished her education in 1947 at Stotesbury, Missouri. Betty married Charles A. Meek on May 20, 1947. They had four children and later divorced. On May 19, 1963, Betty remarried Billy G. Graham and added three more children to their family. In Betty’s earlier years, she worked at the Nevada State Hospital #3. She later worked at Western Insurance and Key Industries until she retired. Betty was a former member of the First Christian Church, the DAR, and the Heintz Workman Mother’s Group. Betty was a twenty-five year member of the Olive Chapter #13 Order of Eastern Star.
Betty is survived by her children, Maria (Meek) Smith of Ft. Scott, Penny Stutes (Ron) of Warsaw, Missouri, Jennifer Almond (Steve) of Ft. Scott, Stanley Meek of Ft. Scott, and Frank Graham (Teresa) of Boonville, Missouri. Also surviving are her brother, Marvin Shelton of Stotesbury,
Missouri and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Graham, her parents, Earl and Jessie Shelton, her brother Jim Shelton, two sons, Chris Meek and Bill Graham, Jr. and three grandchildren, Brenna Stewart, Joby Graham Jolly and Shannon Meek.
Graveside services will be held at 2:30 P.M. Wednesday, August 30th at the East Liberty Cemetery in Stotesbury, Missouri. The family will receive friends at the Cheney Witt Chapel on Wednesday from1:00 P.M. prior to leaving for the cemetery at 2:00 P.M. Memorials are suggested to the Betty Graham Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook atcheneywitt.com.
