Betty L. Gordon

A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 26, 2011 at Ochiltree Funeral Service & Aftercare in Winterset. A visitation will be held 2:00 to 6:00 Sunday, September 25 at the funeral home, with family present to receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the VFW Auxiliary of Winterset. Betty Lee Jellings was born September 29, 1923 in Stanley, Iowa; the daughter of Benjamin and Bessie (Davis) Jellings. She graduated from Randalia High School in 1941. While painting airplanes during WWII in California, she met Bill Gordon from Winterset. They were married in 1945 and after the war, moved back to Winterset. Betty worked for many years for the Winterset School Hot Lunch Program. She was a member of the Methodist Church in Winterset, the American Legion, and the VFW Auxiliary. Betty died Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at the Kavanaugh House in Des Moines. She was 87. Betty is survived by her children, Larry Gordon (Mary) of Winterset, Dixie DeCarlo (Michael), and Kathy Hunt (Wayne Oglesbee) of Des Moines; a brother Dean Jellings (Marilyn) of Traer; five grandchildren, Troy Carey (Alma) of Boone, Kristi McCarthy (Pat) of Urbandale, Debbie DeCarlo of Des Moines, Nick Gordon (Erica) of Winterset, and Jamie Gordon of Winterset; nine great-grandchildren, Kaleb, Bill, Emily, Riley, Alex, Connor, Gavin, Adrianna, and Brayden; she also is survived by her “third daughter” Elsie Henry. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bill in 1979; a sister, Marge Wescott; a granddaughter, Shawn Gordon; and a son-in-law, Barton Carey.