Betty Elizabeth Adams Kennedy
Born: December 05, 1918
Died: February 13, 2008
Erma Elizabeth “Betty” G.. Adams Kennedy passed away on Wednesday, February 13, after suffering numerous setbacks with her health. Betty was born on December 5, 1918, in Jackson, Mississippi to Dr. Powell Beal Gardner and his wife, Hester Howard, who eventually settled in Marshall, Oklahoma where Dr. Gardner opened his family practice. Betty grew up there, playing competitive tennis & singing with a girl’s quartet that performed across Oklahoma. Following graduation from Marshall High School, she entered Baylor University in Waco, Texas at the young age of 16. After she successfully completed her freshman year, she transferred to the University of Oklahoma where she joined Gamma Phi Beta Sorority and completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work in 1938. Shortly thereafter she met and married her husband, Hugh Junior Adams, a local attorney, settling in Guthrie where her father now practiced and where she would spend the rest of her life. Raising three children, Betty was soon actively involved in the community and PTA’s. She and Hugh purchased some land and entered into a partnership to run a successful dairy farm that was eventually sold in 1957 when they shifted to a cow/calf operation and later, leased to local farmers. This gave their children a place to ride horses, milk cows and to appreciate the outdoors. Betty also invested her time and energy in Guthrie Museum Complex Docents and the Logan County Historical Society to preserve and honor Guthrie‘s heritage, but when she saw a need, she filled it. As the president of American Association of University Women, she spearheaded the establishment of Teen Town as a haven for teens and was part of the group to establish a new library. She furthered her community spirit by joining P.E.O. and the Jonquil Garden Club founded by her Mother, making a difference wherever she landed. Her passion for her Arkansas and Mississippi families led her to genealogical research and joining Daughters of the American Revolution, following in her Mother’s footsteps. Her children spent several summers traveling with her to visit the southern relatives. As if this wasn’t enough, she returned to social work in 1952 as a caseworker for the Department of Public Welfare, soon becoming the Logan County Administrator and obtaining her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma. Following the loss of her father in 1945 and her Mother in 1962, Betty and Hugh with their family moved into her parent’s home built in 1937 which was very dear to her until the end of her life. Betty and Hugh were divorced in 1962. However, she forged ahead with her career, doing group work and establishing nutrition programs which took her into administration at the Department of Human Services in Oklahoma City. While serving as the director of Oklahoma County, Betty married Willard Kennedy in 1975. After his death in 1978, she continued her career, retiring in 1981, but maintained her membership in the National Association of Social Workers. Betty enjoyed returning to golf, relishing stories, coffee, and bridge with her many friends and interacting with her three grandchildren. She was devoted to feeding her birds, spoiling her constant company of dogs, and fretting with her gardens. She had a passion for Sooner football and keeping up with the stock market. When her eyes failed, she could find a friendly reader to keep her current on literature, news, and letters. All who knew her, sensed her genuine interest in them and responded accordingly. Betty was truly a genteel Southern matriarch who is survived by her three children, Mary Beth and her husband, Steve Craven, Edmond, OK; H.G. Buck Adams and his wife, Sharon, Guthrie, OK; and Gary Adams, Guthrie, OK; as well as her brother, Dr. John Gardner and his wife, Emily. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Courtney Schrieve and her husband, Garin, Sara Craven and Chad Adams and his wife, Ellie, and her nieces and nephews, John & Deb Gardner, Becky Roman and her husband, David, Julie West and her husband, Greg, and Ann Adams and her husband, Peter. Her final joy was her 3 great granddaughters, Hallie and Anna Schrieve and Baby Emma Adams and her 7 great nieces and nephews. This gracious Steel Magnolia made a lasting impression on all those who knew and loved her, including her many caregivers that were a part of her last year. She will be greatly missed. A Celebration of Life service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Guthrie at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 19th. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie. Visitation will be at the funeral home Monday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Donations can be made in her name to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104-5097.
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