B Etty Jean Ham

Memorial services for Betty Jean Ham will be held Thursday, November 17, 2005, at 2 pm at Sunnybrook Christian Church in Stillwater, Okla. Pastor Paul Anderson and Pastor Mike Kelly will officiate the ceremony. The cremains later will be interred in the Lyon Valley Cemetery near Hennessey, Okla. Services were arranged by the Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc., in Cleveland, Okla.

Betty was born March 31, 1925 in Marshall, Okla., to Joseph Martin and Lillie Ruby (Schulz) Brown. She grew up southwest of Douglas, Okla., where she attended Pioneer School. Betty was very active in basketball and softball, and graduated from Pioneer High School in 1943. In 1944, she was united in marriage to Jimmie T. Ham. Betty and Jimmie made their home in Stillwater, Okla., where they raised three children, Sandra, Mavis and Linda.

While living in Stillwater, Betty began working in the medical field. She attended classes and earned her Surgical Technician and Nursing Aide Certification in the 1950s. She began her career as a surgical technician for Stillwater Medical Center before taking a nursing position with Dr. Rippy. After working nearly 20 years for Dr. Rippy, Betty accepted employment with Judith Karmen Hospice as a home health nurseís aide. In 1998, Betty retired from nursing and later moved from Stillwater to Cleveland, Okla., to reside with her daughter Sandra.

Betty had a tremendous love for the Lord and her family and a zest for life. She enjoyed spending her free time with family and friends, and could often be found dancing, bowling, reading, quilting, needle working or volunteering at her church. During Bettyís lifetime, she seemed to never meet a stranger. Her friends and family would often marvel at her great sense of humor and wit. Betty refused to grow up or grow old and often told her family she was too young to spend time with the ìold people.î

Betty went to be with her Lord and Savior Friday, November 11, 2005, in Broken Arrow, Okla., at the age of 80. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Arthur, Joseph and Victor Brown; and one sister Anna Brown.

Surviving are her loving children, Sandra Sima of Cleveland, Okla.; Mavis King of Broken Arrow, Okla.; Linda and husband Jim Winter of Sapulpa, Okla.; two sisters, Maxine Sadler of Perry, Okla.; Elizabeth and husband Royce Baker of Waukomis, Okla.; one brother, Herbert and Patsy Brown of Glencoe, Okla.; seven grandchildren, Scott and wife Elizabeth King of Bixby, Okla.; Laura and husband Michael Kelly of Windsor, Ca.; Ronna King of Broken Arrow, Okla.; Lynnelle and husband Craig Snowbarger of Jenks, Okla.; Janelle and husband Jason Mulanax of Collinsville, Okla.; Brandon Winter of Tulsa, Okla.; Catherine Sima of Cleveland, Okla.; three great-grandchildren, Anders Kelly of Windsor, Ca.; Emma Snowbarger of Jenks, Okla.; and Britton Kelly of Windsor, Ca.

Visit an online obituary and guestbook for Betty Ham at www.chapman-black.com.