Betty Beard Linton

© Enid News and Eagle

06-14-2011

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

ENID — Bettie Beard Linton was born Sept. 6, 1919, in Garber, Okla., and died Saturday, June 11, 2011, in Overland Park, Kan.

Bettie was delivered by her father, Dr. Eugene Langdon Beard and her mother Ruth Marion Beard in their family home. Bettie and her sister, Peggy, grew up in a happy Christian family and loved to entertain family and friends by singing and dancing for the crowd, where ever they went. Bettie particularly enjoyed watching her father, who was the community physician practice medicine and at times accepting only livestock as payment for his services. This is where Bettie developed her desire to become a nurse.

Bettie graduated from Garber High School and received academic scholarships from the University of North Carolina. Here, she completed her degree in nursing in 1942 and became employed as a public health field nurse in Kingfisher County, Okla.

This experience paved the way to successful supervisory positions including nursing supervisor for Seminole County Health Department, clinical instructor at Bass Baptist Hospital School of Nursing and Director of School Health Services for the Enid Public School system.

For 40 years, Bettie Linton devoted her life to nursing and to education and selflessly gave her time and talents in the service of others.

Although she loved her job as a nurse, Bettie longed for a family of her own. She loved to tell the story of when she first saw Olin Linton riding down the road on his Harley Davidson motorcycle, wearing his sheriff's uniform and hat and describes that moment as being "love at first sight!"

Bettie and Olin were married in 1947 and lived happily in the Kingfisher County courthouse, where Olin was the deputy sheriff and Bettie was the public health nurse.

The years went by and at 36, Bettie had accepted the idea that she would not have children, yet on Sept. 21, 1955, she gave birth to a daughter named Debra Ruth Linton. Two years later her son, Scott Olin Linton was born. Debbie and Scott were Bettie's pride and joy and she worked sometimes two to three jobs to make sure they had everything they wanted and needed.

Despite her strenuous schedule, Bettie never failed to get her kids to church every Sunday. She taught Sunday school, provided meals for the sick and served as the nurse on countless church camp excursions. Bettie's example of "living the faith" was recognized by everyone who knew her and was the catalyst for the start of several programs in the church that continue to this day.

Bettie came to rely upon her church and community one fateful day when her faith was put to the test. On Christmas Eve, 1980, she received news that her beloved daughter, Debbie and her fiancé Mike, were killed in an automobile accident while traveling to his parent's home for the holidays. This was an enormous blow to the entire community, yet even in this time of extreme darkness, Bettie clung to her faith and continued to spread compassion and love toward everyone she met.

Shortly after Debbie's death, Bettie's husband Olin was diagnosed with cancer and passed away Sept. 17, 1984. Bettie stayed by his side until the end of his life, having never strayed from her Christian faith and love for people. As time passed and wounds began to heal, Bettie took up the hobby of walking. She walked every day around the block of her neighborhood and then became a regular "mall walker."

As expected, Bettie walked faster than most and passed everyone on the left giving a smiling wave and saying, "Howdy Doo!" Before she knew it, she was walking at least two to three miles every day except on Sunday's and had lost 50 pounds! She used to say, "Now that weight won't slow me down and I can see my grandchildren grow up!" Bettie did just that and was able to develop a beautiful relationship with her grandchildren, Ellyn and Noah, whom she loved more than life itself. With every baby blanket and dress sewn, every birthday remembered and the ability to offer words of encouragement from a passing generation that understood real life struggles and offer her "pearls of wisdom" when requested, even at this point in her life.

Bettie Linton grabbed life by the tail and celebrated life even in the darkest of times. She was a daughter, a sister, a nurse, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a counselor, a friend and now she is an angel who, rest assured, will continue to watch over us as we continue our journey here on earth.

We love you, Nana!

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, June 16, 2011, at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. John McLemore will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent to www.ladusauevans.com.

(Submitted by family)

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