Betty Sterling

Betty Jo Moon Pinkerton Sterling formerly of Alma, Arkansas and Kansas City, Kansas passed away Thursday, November 21, 2019 at Greystone Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Cabot, Arkansas.  Betty was born February 16, 1933 in Okemah, Oklahoma to Haskell (H.D.) and Irene Moon.  She graduated from Fort Smith High School.  She married Roy Daniel Pinkerton on July 7, 1951.   They moved to Kansas City, KS in 1955 where Roy found employment with General Motors and Greyhound after serving in the United States Army.  Betty worked for a short period of time at Sunshine Biscuits, Wee Winnie Wearables and Wal-Mart but most of her life she was a devoted housewife and mother to her three children.  She loved to sew and was a wonderful seamstress.  She had a green thumb and greatly enjoyed her flowers.  She was also an awesome cook and made the best chocolate pie.

Betty was a former member of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City where she served faithfully as church pianist for many years.  She sang with the Ladies Quartet, taught Sunday School, worked with the youth and assisted Roy as Church Treasurer.

After Roy’s death in 1990 she married Warren W. Sterling in 1994.  After Warren retired from Santa Fe Railroad they moved to Alma, Arkansas to be closer to her sister.   They enjoyed their time there and became active members of Alma Heights Missionary Baptist Church.  Warren suffered a life-changing stroke in 2008 and they were forced to move to an Assisted Living Facility.  Betty began exhibiting signs of Alzheimer’s and suffered with the disease until her death.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother (Bob Moon) and her beloved husbands,  Roy Pinkerton and Warren Sterling.

Betty is survived by her children, Judy Kaay (Bill) Simmons; Debra Jean (Kenny) Head and Gary Dale (Michelle) Pinkerton; five grandchildren whom she loved dearly, Amanda Michele (Sam) Thrower; Zachary Daniel (Katie) Simmons; Sarah Irene (Caleb) Smith; Cortney Renee (Codey) Lester and Conner Daniel Pinkerton.  She has eight great-grandchildren who always brought a smile to her face, Hannah, Rebecca and Leah Thrower; Carleigh, Chase, Caylynn and Carsyn Lester; Elizabeth Smith; one sister, Kathryn Medlock and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial service will be held at Landmark Baptist Church, Bonner Springs, Kansas on Friday, November 29, 2019. The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. with funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m.  Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.  Arrangements are made through Chapel Hills – Butler Funeral Home in Kansas City, Kansas.