Betty Jo Robinson

    Betty Jo Robinson, 96, Overland Park, KS, formerly of Nevada, MO passed away peacefully on Thursday November 25th in Overland Park.  Betty Jo was born February 21, 1925 in Nevada, MO to Joseph Taylor Dicks and Gladys Lena Becket.  Betty Jo married John Raymond Robinson in Nevada on June 17th, 1950.  He preceded her in death on November 5th 1996.

   A lifelong resident of Vernon County, she lived in Washington Township before she moved with her parents to the farm in Lake Township.  Betty Jo attended elementary school in Lake Township and graduated from Nevada High School with the class of 1943. She was the editor of the school newspaper, the Crimson and Grey, her senior year.

   After high school she attended and graduated from Cottey College.  She taught at a rural school for a time before marrying Raymond and settling into life as partners on the family farm where she lived until moving to Nevada in 1996 after the death of Raymond. She later moved to Overland Park in 2016 to be near her family.

   Betty Jo was involved in many activities as a mother, grandmother, and friend. She was active in PTA when her children were in school at Metz. She was a long-time member of the Durham Good Neighbors Club. She was also a DOE and enjoyed many of the Elks events over the years with Raymond and friends.

   Betty Jo and the family had a love of horses and was a horse show mom extraordinaire.  She assisted her daughters with showing saddle breeds all across the area and later helped her granddaughter with quarter horses.  She was competitive and focused and expected everyone to “get with the program” at horse shows.  Betty Jo was also a sports fan and she followed the Royals, Chiefs, Mizzou and the Nevada Griffons, she even watched golf. She and Raymond were thrilled to be able to attend the Royals 1985 World Series.

   She was her children and grandchildren’s biggest fan in all their endeavors.  She watched her granddaughter Robyn play AAU, high school and college basketball and volleyball all over the country.  She loved to watch the Nevada Show Choir when grandson Taylor was a member of the Soundsational Singers.  

   Betty Jo was a lifelong member of the First Christian Church in Nevada.  She was a supporter of many charitable causes, particularly women’s and progressive foundations as well as many local charities.

   In retirement she and Raymond took RV trips to warmer climates as Midwest snowbirds with their friends, the Pursley’s, Thomas’ and York’s.  The group returned in the spring to spend the summer parked at Pomme de Terre lake where they enjoyed fishing and having fish fries. 

   After moving to Nevada she traveled all across America with her friends on bus trips.  She then became a world traveler with her dear friends Pauline Page and Kay Westerhold.  They took trips all over the world, including Europe South America and the Middle East.

   Betty Jo was the matriarch and rock of the family beloved for her quick wit, work ethic, and relentless competitiveness in cards.  She was loved dearly and will be deeply missed.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Gladys Dicks, her daughter Jo Ed Robinson-Jones and granddaughter Linda McReynolds-Sands.

   She is survived by her daughter, Paula Gayle Edmonds and her husband Chuck;  grandchildren Robyn Gayle Edmonds and Taylor John Richard Edmonds; and several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren

   Private graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Newton Burial Park on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.  Friends may call at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, to pay respects until 1:00 p.m. on the day of the service. 

   Memorials are suggested to the Nevada High School Foundation in memory of Betty Jo. 

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