Betty Garner

Funeral service for Betty Garner, 96, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 6, 2021, at First United Methodist Church in Snyder with Rev. Les Bussell, pastor officiating.

Burial will follow in Fairlawn Cemetery, Snyder, under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home of Snyder.

The family will greet friends from 10 a.m. until noon Saturday at the funeral home.

Betty Garner was born September 9, 1925, to Lyle and Ollie Hines in Snyder. Betty passed away October 29, 2021, in Lawton.

Betty grew up climbing the surrounding mountains, which she loved, and picnicking in the forest reserve. She was in the Snyder band and as a teenager worked at the Rexall Drug, attended Epworth League at the Methodist Church and assisted teaching Sunday School. After graduation in 1943, she married her high school sweetheart, J.C. Garner. She was a child growing up in the Great Depression and now a young woman during WWII. She followed J.C. to San Diego, California, where he attended basic training in the Navy, riding on a troop train alone at 19. She had never been out of the state of Oklahoma.

After the war and several years in Snyder, Betty and J.C. moved to Quanah, Texas, with their three children where they stayed until 1981. Once again, she began teaching Sunday School at the Methodist Church and attending the Women’s Society. She was in a sewing club, and a Brownie leader, as well as volunteering for many of her children’s other activities. Later, she began working in the office of Georgia Pacific. Though it was ten miles from town, she and a friend rode their bicycles to work in good weather.

As J.C. neared retirement, they purchased a home in Snyder and returned to their roots. Family, as well as old friends, were still living there. Being close to family made her very happy. She picked up where she left off, teaching Sunday School and participating in many other church responsibilities. She attended the Walk to Emmaus and several Methodist church conferences across the state. She belonged to the Women’s Study Club in which her mother and grandmother had belonged. She was an excellent seamstress and artist, canned from her garden, read continuously, and loved working on the family genealogy. But her happiest times were traveling in the camper with J.C.

After J.C. passed away, she continued traveling with Snyder friends to Ireland and Alaska. She loved her family and spending time with them and entertaining her grandchildren. Her little dog Katy was her constant companion. Her door was always open to family and friends. Throughout her life she was always ready for new adventures and willing to serve where needed.

After moving to Assisted Living in Lawton, she decided if she had to be anywhere other than home this was the place to be. She met new friends but her happiest day was when her best friend Johnye Kirk joined her there.

She leaves behind a family who loved her dearly, including two daughters, Suzanne Warren and Judy Garner, son-in-law, Garri Warren, daughter-in-law, Lydia Garner, granddaughters, Wynne Marsh, Penny Sampler, Stevie White, Amanda Lester, Wanda Klucik, grandsons, Chris Keilberg, Shane Stermer, Tighe Keilberg, Joe Garner and all of their families including 15 great-grandchildren, six nieces and a nephew.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J.C. Garner, and her son, Steve Garner, along with many family members who welcomed her into her forever home.