Betty Cloe Clarke Sunderland King

05-05-2010

©Enid News and Eagle

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

© Enid News and Eagle

ENID — Betty Cloe Clarke Sunderland King, 84, died peacefully Sunday morning, May 2, 2010, at her home. Her celebration service will be 10:30 a.m. Thurs-day, May 6, 2010, at First United Methodist Church, Cherokee, with Rev. W.C. “Bill“ Smith and Rev. Paul Calkin officiating. Burial will be in Byron-Amorita Cemetery under the direction of Goodwin Funeral Home of Cherokee. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today with the family present from 5:30-7 p.m.

You may honor Betty’s memory with a memorial to the Alfalfa County Historical Society and Museum, the recipient of many hours of her voluntary work after she retired as secretary/receptionist for the County Commissioners. Goodwin Funeral Home will be in charge of the memorial fund.

Betty was born June 25, 1925, in Kay County, Okla., to John H. and Olena D. Gifford Clarke.

She was united in marriage to Vernol B. Sunderland on May 8, 1944, in Medicine Lodge, Kan. The couple farmed and raised their three children on an Alfalfa County farm until his death on March 15, 1959. She was united in marriage to Carl King on November 28, 1968.

Betty faithfully attended and raised her family at the rural Union Valley Church. In later years she attended and served at the Christian Church in Byron and the Vining Community Church. When the rural population dwindled and these churches closed or combined, she established her membership at First United Methodist Church, Cherokee.

Betty was passionate about many things and carried out her passions with eagerness and tirelessness. She was a charter member of the Fish Hatchery Home Demonstra-tion Club and a charter member of the Alfalfa County Historical Society and served this society as officer and board member. She was a member of B&PW and Alfalfa County Hospital Volunteers. Her favorite historical society project was the Alfalfa County Museum where she spent many hours accessing, researching, and displaying the items of Alfalfa County’s past. Other historical society projectsclose to her heart were the purchase and restoration of the Union Valley Church and the relocation and preservation of the Locust Grove Schoolhouse, for which she donated the new site. She was honored for her support of county projects by being a 1991 inductee into the Alfalfa County Hall of Fame and received a recognition certificate for her years of service to the Historical Society.

Betty leaves her children, Rex (Nelda) Sunderland of Byron, June (Gary) Gerber of Anthony, Kan., Kay (Reggie) Diel of Cherokee, Okla.; her grandchildren, Laura Thompson, Denise (John) Highfill, Doug (fiancé Jennifer Stains) Sunderland, Sonja (Ken) Alexander, Dustin Gerber, Brandon (Brenda) Gerber, Reggie (fiancé Laura Dugger) Hague, Kirsten (Lane) Pruett and Stephanie (Tim) Miller; her great-grandchildren, Logan Thompson, Leandra Thomp-son, Christopher Highfill, Austin Dolley, Mitchell Gerber, Adrian Gerber, Miguel Gerber, Shiann Carter, Slade Hague, Laramie Sunderland and Kayli Pruett.

Grandma King has numerous “children and grandchildren” important in her life ... Steve and Julie Lewis, Shelley Sunderland, Nicki Sunderland; one brother, John (Helen) Clarke, Highland Springs, Va.; nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and her husbands.

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