Betty Dean (Bearden) Gatliff December 30, 1928 – December 23, 2018 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card Celebration of Life for Betty Dean (Bearden) Gatliff will be at 2:00 pm Thursday, December 27, 2018 at Olivet Baptist Church, Lawton with Pastor Kenn Lane officiating. She will be laid to rest in Denton Cemetery, northeast of Lawton, Stephens County, Oklahoma next to her husband, parents and grandparents. Arrangements are under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
The family will greet friends Wednesday evening, December 26, 2018 from 6pm until 8pm at the funeral home. Betty Dean (Bearden) Gatliff, Lawton, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, December 23, 2018 at her home at the age of 89. She was born December 30, 1928, South of Sterling, Oklahoma to Jim and Ina (Patterson) Bearden.
She had one brother, Howard Bearden. She graduated from Elgin High School in 1947 and after graduation she worked for Kress, Coca Cola and downtown Levine’s. She also worked at Carlton Studios in the old downtown Kohler building as a photo colorist.
She painted in heavy oils a lifesize portrait of Governor Kerr that was taken to Oklahoma City for display. She was very devoted to genealogy and was a member of SWOG’s. Betty married Richard Gatliff, Jr. at Cameron Baptist Church in Lawton.
They were married by Rev. Bert York. Betty and her family were charter members of Medicine Park Baptist Church and later charter members of Sunset Baptist Church at 25th & I Avenue.
The congregation moved to 67th Street and changed the name to Olivet Baptist Church. They honored her by naming their library after her. She was the church librarian for 27 years.
Betty was a devoted wife and mother. She loved gardening, took pictures of her flowers and liked to paint them on landscapes. In 2014 she earned yard of the month.
In 1996 she took her dream vacation to Israel, touring Jerusalem. Betty always claimed two families, her church family and her own family whom she adored. She will always be remembered for her quiet strength for her entire family.
Betty is survived by her 3 sons, Mike, Richard and Robert Gatliff, her daughter Elizabeth Bollinger and son-in-law Richard all of Lawton, 7 grandchildren, Jamie and Chris Gatliff, Becky Little, Jackie Little, Kim Gupton and Clint and Cody Gatliff, 15 great grandchildren, Kris and Dylan Evans, Trevor and Oliver Gatliff, Courtney Chambers, Samantha Little, Whitney Poskey, Joseph Mosley Little, Trenton, Dakota and Brittany Gupton, Blaine Anzaldula, Joseph and Sofia Gatliff, Gracie Gatliff and 3 great-great grandchildren. Betty is preceded in death by her parents, husband and her brother.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
