Betty L. Ivers

Betty Lou Ivers, 89, of McPherson, passed away on January 1, 2017, at The Cedars in McPherson. She was a retired professor at Central Christian College. She was born March 31, 1927, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Roy and Lora (Willey) Smith. She graduated from Fairmont High School in 1945 and later earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois and a Master’s Degree from Indiana State University.

On June 4, 1951, Betty married Keith Pierce Ivers in Greenville, Illinois. They have been McPherson residents since 1955, moving from Oakdale, Kentucky.

Betty was an active member of the Free Methodist Church including Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) and Christian Youth Crusaders (CYC). She was also a highly respected professor and chairman of the Life Sciences Department at Central Christian College, who also selected her as an Academy of Achievers recipient in 1988.

Survivors include: three children, Karl Ivers (Kristin) of Williamsport, PA; Dawn Porter (Steve) of McPherson, KS, and Calvin Ivers (Julia) of McPherson; brother, Dale Smith (Donna) of Minneapolis, MN; sister, Dorothy Wickler of Mankato, MN; nine grandchildren, Allison Ivers, Rachel Ivers, Drew Porter (Charity), Lane Porter (Lizzie), Adam Porter, Caleb Porter, Wyatt Porter, Karilyn Sanders (Melvin), and Kevin Ivers (Dawn); and three great-grandchildren, Silas Porter, Wes Porter and Hazel Porter. She was preceded in death by her husband, Keith, her parents, and one sister, Carol Cromwell.

The funeral service will be at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, January 4, 2017, at the McPherson Free Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Griffith and Rev. Tom Mayse officiating. Burial will follow at McPherson Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday, January 3, at Stockham Family Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Free Methodist Church or Central Christian College of Kansas, in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Betty L. Ivers please visit our Sympathy Store.