Betty Shellady

On March 24, 2022, Betty Jo Shellady, age 97, passed away into God’s graces, after a long and well lived life. Throughout her many years, she was a caring daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.

Betty was the youngest child of Joseph Bishop Sigler and Anna Josephine Danielson of Illinois, where Betty’s oldest brother, Kenneth Sigler was born. After moving to Perry, Iowa, Betty’s sister Annabelle and her brother Charles were born. Her sister Maudie and Betty were both born in Morrison, Oklahoma, after their parents settled on a farm near there.

Betty loved botany in high school, and her love of plants and flowers and growing things remained with her all of her life. She graduated from Morrison High School during World War II. At the time, there was a shortage of teachers in the country schools. After a summer of training at OSU in Stillwater, Betty received an emergency teaching credential and taught two years at Lone Star School near Morrison.

On May 21, 1945, she married Wynne B. Shellady of Lela, Oklahoma, and they took up residence in Enid, Oklahoma. Wynne worked as a clerk for 37 years at the Frisco Railroad. Betty was a homemaker and was devoted to her family. Wynne and Betty had two daughters, Alice Marie and Nancy Ann. Wynne and Betty attended Central Christian Church in Enid, and were both active members.

Betty will best be remembered for her life of love and service to others. When her children were young, she taught Sunday School at Central Christian Church, and was a Campfire Girl Leader. She was also a member of Christian Women’s Fellowship at the church and she regularly visited people who were homebound. Later in her life, she worked with the WCTU’s annual poster contest to educate school children on the dangers of alcohol and drugs. She also was a volunteer in the Adult Literacy Program at the Enid Library.

From 2015-2018, Betty lived in Wichita, Kansas near daughter Alice, and her husband Bruce Ward. From 2019 until her death, Betty lived in Newbury Park, CA, with her younger daughter Nancy and husband Don Thompson and family. Up until her passing, she enjoyed crossword puzzles, board games, and time with the family.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, all of her above-mentioned siblings, her husband Wynne, and her daughter, Alice Shellady Williamson Ward.

Betty is survived by her grandson, Wesley Williamson, his wife Kate and their two children Anna and Wynn of Rochester, NY. She is also survived by grandson Wade Williamson and his daughter Camille of Wichita, KS. In addition, Betty is survived by daughter Nancy Thompson and husband Don of Newbury Park, California; their sons Peter and Kyle Thompson, and Kyle’s wife Jessica; sister-in-law Josephine Shellady and many nieces, nephews, and cousins on both sides of the family.

Betty’s funeral service will be 2:00 pm Monday, April 18, 2022, in the Chapel of Central Christian Church in Enid, Oklahoma. Rev. Tom Stanley and Rev. Don Johnson will officiate, with burial following in Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Betty’s honor to the Central Christian Church Caregivers with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.

Condolences may be made, memories shared, and services viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com.