Betty Jean Bozarth McGee, 85, of New Franklin, passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at the University of Missouri Columbia Hospital after a short stay with her children by her side. She was born on September 18, 1938, to Clifford and Berniece (Holt) Bozarth in Grandview, Iowa. She was the oldest of three girls. She moved east of New Franklin when she was two years old and attended Farmer’s High for most of her schooling. She attended New Franklin High School and graduated from there in 1956. She started working as a nurse’s aide for St. Joseph Hospital in 1956. She attended the Columbia Public School of Nursing from August 1958 to August 1959. She was a member of the first class to attend this school. She received her LPN degree from there in 1959. Betty worked at Ellis Fischel in Columbia during school. She worked as an LPN for St. Joseph’s Hospital in Boonville from 1956 to 1972. She continued working there when it switched to Cooper County Memorial Hospital. She continued her nursing career there and retired in November 2003. She returned to work in January of 2004 and retired for the last time in 2012.

Betty was a caregiver from the time she was little. She helped care for her younger sisters and then became a nurse after high school. She thrived on nursing, often working 16-hour shifts. After she had children, she was present for all their activities. She spent many hours caring for her grandkids and attending their activities as well. She also attended the great-grandchildren’s activities until it became difficult for her. After she moved to the senior housing in New Franklin, she checked on neighbors, collected their mail, and took their trash out. Caring for others was in her nature.

She loved her family and God. She was proud of the fact that she was the oldest living member of her church that was still attending.  

She married Wallace Wayne McGee on May 7, 1960. They made their home in Columbia and later moved several times before settling on a farm outside New Franklin. They moved from the farm to New Franklin in the spring of 1970 after Wayne started working for the MKT railroad. He preceded her in death on March 22, 2002.  

She was also preceded in death by her parents and a special grandson-in-law, George Thurman.  

She is survived by two children, Clifford (Jacqueline) McGee of New Franklin and Bonnie (Harold) Wilson of Laddonia; two sisters, Shirley (Bill) Evans and Twila Robinett (Bill Young); nine grandchildren, Michael (Jessica) Mason, Courtney Hughes, Mark (Ashley) McGee, Jessica Thurman (Trent Ginter), Josh Wilson, David (Jamie) Parrish, Racheal Parrish (D.J. Rhorer), Sean (Erin) Wilson and Zachary McGee; 21 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church in New Franklin, where she had been baptized as a child and still attended faithfully.

Funeral services honoring Betty’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the First Baptist Church in New Franklin. Visitation will be the hour prior to the service at the church.

Burial will be at Roanoke Cemetery in Roanoke.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church in New Franklin.

Condolences may be shared at www.marklandyager.com.

Markland-Yager Funeral Home of New Franklin is honored to serve Betty’s family.