Betty Travis, 90, of Exira, Iowa, and formerly of Lewis, died Friday, January 29, 2021, at the Exira Care Center.
Betty Lou was born on January 10, 1931, on the family farm east of Lewis, Iowa, the daughter of William Harry and Lola Belle (Waller) Berry. She attended school in Lewis and graduated from Lewis High School in 1950.
On January 7, 1951, she married Harry Travis, and they spent the first year of their marriage living in Houston, Texas, while he was in the service. In February 1952, they moved back to Lewis. Over the years, Betty lived in Walnut and Atlantic, but most of her years were spent in Lewis. When the kids started school, Betty worked as a nurse’s aide at the Atlantic and Oakland Care Centers. Betty served many meals to area residents at Bob’s Downtowner, and before her retirement in 2004, she made donuts at Casey’s in Griswold.
She enjoyed sewing and crocheting in her spare time, making each of the grandkid’s patchwork turtles with her scraps. She was quick to tell you that she didn’t quilt but made comforters and rugs out of old jeans. Betty knew her way around the kitchen, cooking delicious meals and tasty baked goods. Every Sunday before church, which she faithfully attended, she would prepare a roast, so it was ready to enjoy after. When you visited her, you knew that there were always premade sugar cookies in the freezer ready to throw in the oven. In her younger years, she was an avid gardener and loved all kinds of flowers. She was a member of the Lewis Church of Christ, served on many committees, was a member of the ladies’ aide, and sang in the choir.
Her sons survive betty, Doug (fiancé, Kathy Stone), Travis and Paul (Jodi) Travis, all of Lewis, IA; daughters, Denise Huey of Lewis, IA, and Jo Beth (Bob) Blay of Red Oak, IA; 9 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Pat Berry of Florence OR; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Lola Berry; daughter-in-law, Vicky Travis; brothers, Roger Berry and Richard Berry; sister, Wilma Weirich; great-granddaughter, Haley Marie McCormick; brother-in-law, Gerald Weirich; and sister-in-law, Arlene Berry.
Open visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Friday, February 5, 2021, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. No visitation with the family present is planned.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 6, 2021, at the Lewis Church of Christ. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis.
