Betty Delores (Cole) Gourley

Betty Delores (Cole) Gourley

Born in Wichita, KS July 9, 1930.

She is preceded in death by husband Don(Donald) Lee (Chuesberg) Gourley, son Donald G. Gourley, father Charles Clarence Cole, mother Clara Charlotte Cole, her brother and three sisters, and a son in law Ron Edens.

She is survived by four daughter; Kathy Poplin (Don), Vicki Edens, Luann Riggan (Mike), and Teresa Pape (Gene). Ten grandchildren; Richard Hoffman (wife Susie), Shiloh Hoffman (wife Marcy), Gaylan Gourley (wife Lisa), Shawna (Gourley) Land (husband Dustin), Kevin Gourley (wife Michaela), Daniel Duff (wife Donita), Paul Riggan (wife Ashley), Nathan Riggan (wife Faun), Zachary Pape (wife Hannah), and Elizabeth (Pape) Leddy (husband Jeremy); fifteen great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren.

Betty was born in Wichita, Kansas.  She then lived in Rogers, Arkansas for approximately ten years until her mother passed away.  The family moved back to Wichita.  Betty did not get to complete her education past 8th grade.  She met her husband Don in Wichita in 1947, they married on Jun 1, 1948.  They were married just short of 70 years when Don passed away in March 2018.

Betty’s father was a Pentecost preacher and she accepted Jesus as her savior at a young age.  As a mother, she inspired her children to follow Christ.

Betty was a homemaker.  Along with cooking and taking lunch to the wheat field for up to 15 people during harvest time every summer, she was a self taught seamstress including making a wedding dress from just a picture from a bride’s magazine.  After the children were grown and on their own, she operated a combine durning harvest.  In the fall she would coon hunt with Don.  Every Sunday after church she cooked dinner for the whole family and we all looked forward to attending.  Daddy always tried to steal food off of someone’s plate.

Betty suffered a major stroke in January of 1983.  She lost the ability to speak ad was paralyzed on her right side.  She didn’t let that stop her.  She continued to cook, sew and crochet with only the use of her left hand. She will be Deeply loved and will be greatly missed by her family.

Visitation: Friday September, 27 from 5-7pm w/family present. Funeral Service: Saturday September 28 at 10:30am, both at Webb-Shinkle Mortuary, Clearwater, KS.