Betty (Boyer) Sweezea

Betty Jean Sweezea, 86 of Owensville, MO, formerly of Ellsinore and Wayne County passed away Monday, September 27, 2021, at Gasconade Manor, Owensville, MO. She was born in Ellsinore, MO, November 12, 1935, to parents Earl and Ruth (Furlow) Boyer.

Betty was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt. She married Arthur Sweezea on May 9, 1954, and to this union two children were born. She was a secretary with shorthand skills and worked in St. Louis just after marrying for about six years before moving to Southern MO. Betty was of General Baptist faith and attended White Hollow Church from about 1960 until she moved away. She later attended a General Baptist church in Potosi until she could no longer attend. Up until that point, Betty never missed a service and was always ready to take notes in her Bible. The church community was her only social circle except her family and her job. She worked most of her years in the Lutesville and Piedmont Cap Factory, where she was a floor manager and repaired machines while sewing piece work. She was the community carpool driver and never missed a day of work due to illness or snow. After moving from the Wayne County area, Betty was a lead chef at a Nursing facility in Gerald, MO. Betty was very supportive of her children and always told them, “You can do anything you want if you just get up and do it, you will figure it out.” She had a sneaky way about her when getting her point across! In her young days, she enjoyed playing basketball and was actually the all star basket ball player. Betty hunted and fished to help provide food for the family. She was avid in sewing, quilting, crocheting, and completed beautiful embroidery work. Betty enjoyed gardening and cooking. She raised and canned food for the winter. She was known for her chicken and dumpling, coconut cream pie, and cobblers. She loved to make black berry jelly.

 In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her loving husband of fifty years; brothers: Dale, Everett, Paul, and Clifton Boyer; sisters: Little Jane, and Edna Buttery; daughter-in-law: Donna Sweezea.

Betty is survived by both her children: DeWayne Sweezea of Union, MO, and Paula Kay-Ki Sweezea of Golden Valley, AZ; grandchildren: Melissa Dawn Schneider and husband Rusty, Amber Rae Oxley and husband Billy Feely; great-grandchildren: Star and Michael, Shire Rain and Chase Haze, Micheal Gerling and Brintley. Betty will be greatly missed by her family and friends. 

Visitation was held at 12:00 pm, Sunday, October 10, 2021, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral service was held at 2:00 pm, also in the Piedmont Chapel. Pastor Richard Sanders ministered to the family. Jimmy Jones, Mike Gerling, Billy Feely, David Davis, Richard Sanders, and Roy Million served as pallbearers. Burial was in Chapel Hill Cemetery, Mill Spring. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com

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