Betty Martin

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Most notably, Betty’s life was marked by her faith in Jesus.

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Betty June Martin “Meemee” died peacefully with her family at her side. She was 91 years of age.

 Meemee lived a long and full life. She was born in Eminence, Missouri and raised in Doe Run where she was the setter on her high school’s state championship volleyball team. When she was just 26 years old, she moved halfway around the world to Bangkok, Thailand with her husband and three-year-old daughter. While in Thailand, Betty attended a Baptist church where she came to know and love Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

 Summer breaks, the birth of a second daughter, and visits to family brought them home occasionally, but for the next twenty years, they spent the majority of their time abroad in Indonesia and Uruguay. Eventually they settled in St. Louis. Betty referred to the travel as “the adventure of a lifetime,” but to hear Meemee tell the tale, this was the least interesting part of her life.

 Meemee thought the most interesting part of her life was her family. Her house was covered in pictures of her daughters, son-in-laws, grandchildren, all the family dogs, and her great-grandchildren. Her gardening and pie making skills were legendary, despite the fact she claimed to be terrible at both. She once killed a snake with a hoe and left the hoe on the back deck to send a message to the other snakes. Her Scottish terrier, Ian, was her pride and joy.

 She is survived by her daughters Susan Harper (Patrick), Sheryl Reymond (Robert), grandchildren Mary Pryor (Christopher), Harriet Gabel (Christopher), Catherine Harper (Sarah), Brooke Davis (Logan), and John Reymond (Ella). She has six great-grandchildren, Josiah, James, William, Harper, Evelyn, and Gilbert. She will be missed by all. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jakie Martin and Lillie May (Becker) Ragsdale; her siblings, Mildred Tripp, Beulah Gregory, Otto Martin, Jack Martin, Bonnie Edwards, Madonna Arcand, Jerrel Martin, Roy Martin, Herbert Martin, and Robert Martin; and William “Bill” Sebastian.

 Most notably, Betty’s life was marked by her faith in Jesus. Her favorite verse was John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” We rejoice knowing that Betty is at perfect peace in the presence of her Lord and look forward to seeing her again in glory. 

On Saturday, November 21, visitation will be at Cozean Memorial Chapel in Farmington, Missouri from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Burial will be in the Doe Run Memorial Cemetery. The burial service will be immediate family only. There will also be a memorial service on Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 6:00 pm in Overland Park, Kansas, at Redeemer Presbyterian Church.