Betty M. Travis

Betty May Travis, 88, of Creston passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, at Mount Ayr Health Care Center in Mount Ayr. A Celebration of Life Service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, at First Baptist Church, 1001 N. Lincoln Street, Creston. Pastor Dave Tebbenkamp will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery northeast of Creston. Visitation with family receiving friends will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service Tuesday at First Baptist Church.

Memorials may be directed to the Mayflower Heritage Christian School of Creston. Online condolences may be given at www.powersfh.com.

Betty May (Hardisty) Travis was born Aug. 21, 1934, to Solomon Lee and Elizabeth Kaziah (Fudge) Hardisty. She was the youngest of eight children. She grew up and was educated in rural Adams County where the family owned a small farm.

Growing up she was a member of First Baptist Church in Corning and was saved at an early age. Her faith has always been a big part of her life.

A good friend of Betty’s introduced her to Bruce Vance Travis and later they were married on Nov. 11, 1951, at First Baptist Church in Corning. They were married 57 years until Bruce passed in 2009. To this union three children were born: Rosalie Cheryl, Bruce Randall and David Allen. She now has 11 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. They started their life on a small farm in Sharpsburg and later moved to a farm at Creston in 1956. After a couple other moves they came back in 1966 to a farm northeast of Creston which remains the family farm today.

Betty was always a hard worker. She helped on the farm, and over the years has worked as a nurse aide, at Tots and Teens clothing, Phipps Fabric and Spurgeons until it closed. She loved to garden, raise flowers and was also a wonderful cook. She took many meals to the field during planting and harvesting. There was always homemade cookies or pie on her kitchen table for anyone who came by. She also loved to sew and made many things for her children and grandchildren as they grew up.

She has always had a love for horses. Bruce and Betty belonged to the Union County Saddle Club and loved to ride in parades. Many summers were spent with their children and grandchildren camping and going on trail rides.

Betty is survived by her children Rosalie McAlexander of Beaconsfield, Bruce (Dee) Travis and David (Jean) Travis, both of Creston; sister Velma Cox of Manitowoc, Wisconsin; grandchildren Jeff McAlexander, Tim (Sarah) McAlexander, Pat (Melissa) McAlexander, Andy (Becky) McAlexander, Jamie (Megan) Travis, Clint (Rachael) Travis, Adam (Kelsey) Travis, Mallory (Kevin) Lents, Mandy (Drew) Henderson, Curtis (Chelsea) Travis, Roxanne (Casey) Ward; 30 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, siblings and spouses James (Lorna) Hardisty, Robert Cox, Ernest (Velda) Hardisty, Harold (Beatrice) Hardisty, Paul (Evelyn) Hardisty, Marie (Clifford) Roach, and Henry (Joyce) Hardisty and her son-in-law Jerry McAlexander.