EBY, Bessie Marie "Betty" (Culver) - b. November 9, 1924 - d. March 7, 2018

[patyrn]

Bessie Marie "Betty" Eby was born November 9, 1924 in Augusta, Kansas to Harvey and Doris Culver and passed away on March 7, 2018 at the age of 93.  Betty's father died when she was five years old, and the family moved to Liberal, Kansas and lived there until she was twelve years old.  She moved with her mother to Wichita, Kansas, and her mother married Ray Hornbeek in 1940.

Betty graduated from North High School in Wichita in 1942.  She met Herbert "Herb" Spurrier after he had returned from Europe at the end of World War II.  They married in 1947.  He was Assistant Manager of the Broadway Mortuary in Wichita.  In 1959, Betty and Herb moved to Howard, Kansas to operate Spurrier Funeral Home.  Herb was a licensed Funeral Director, and Betty held an Assistant Funeral Director's license.  Betty and Herb had four children, Marc Steven and Kaye Marie who were born while they lived in Wichita, and Sylvia DeAnn and Brian Herbert who were born after they came to Howard.  Betty retired from the funeral home with her husband in 1977.  She also worked for a time at the Howard Courant-Citizen newspaper.  Herb died in March 1990 after a long illness.

Betty was a member of the United Methodist Church of Howard, a member of the UMW of the church, and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.  She was given her 50 year pin in 2010.  She was a former member of PEO, Business and Professional Women's Club, and the Howard Mother's Club.

Betty later married James Whitney Eby who had retired as President of the Howard State Bank.  They made the most of the time they had together.  They traveled and saw many interesting places.  They tried to see the funny side of everything and enjoyed just being together.  He died in June 1997 after they were together for 6 1/2 years. 

Betty leaves her children, sons Marc Spurrier and wife, Sharron and Brian Spurrier and wife, Lori; daughters, Kaye Yates and husband, Robert and Sylvia Stites; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation for Betty Eby will be Monday, March 12, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Countryside Funeral Home in Howard, Kansas.  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., also at the funeral home.  The family has suggested a memorial to Howard  Friendship Meals and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home.  Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com.  Services have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas 67349.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)