Bette Jean (McKean) Willard was born at home on October 4, 1926 to parents Jesse and Lura (Frazier) McKean. She grew up with brothers Arthur and Wayne in Cleveland Ohio. Half-brother Gordon McKean of Illinois was raised by grandparents. Bette learned of charity and generosity from her parents who were able to provide food for the less fortunate during the depression because her accountant father, worked for a meatpacking plant.
Bette attended West Technical High School where she met her husband, Roy Willard. She remembers not liking him at first until she saw him decked out in his Army Uniform. After a short courtship, they were soon engaged and with only two days’ preparation, married in the rectory of the catholic church. Post-war, they settled in Parma, Ohio where they had three children. When Roy received a new job as a television engineer they moved to Farmington, Michigan, and built a home. But Bette and Roy were committed to living a Christian life and soon realized they could not tithe while paying a high mortgage. Moving to a nearby Farmington Township, it was here that Bette really blossomed in her faith and service to Christ.
The family joined Clarenceville United Methodist where she served on various boards, none more important than the Missions board. Her home housed many pastors, missionaries, and evangelists. One such missionary, Jacob Ratnam of Sri Lanka, even referred to her as “Momma Bird”, his Michigan Momma. She opened her home weekly for Good News Clubs where children learned about Jesus and she hosted Sunday night get-togethers for the youth. Bette was a trusted prayer warrior, wrote letters to shut-ins, a Sunday school teacher, a teacher of teachers, and wrote for publications.
After her husband died in 1993, she moved to a townhouse where she enjoyed her independent life. In 2018 her daughter moved her to an assisted living where she continued to share Jesus. But the effects of Covid-19 on assisted living brought Bette isolation and declining health leading her daughter and son-in-law to move her to Stratford, TX where she was able to spend a final holiday with family. She died peacefully in her sleep on December 3rd, while home under the care of Memorial Hospice of Dumas.
An online memorial service will be scheduled in 2021. Her ashes will be buried at Parkview Cemetery in Livonia, Michigan beside her husband.
You are welcome to share your thoughts in the online guest book at the Horizon Funeral Home website. In Lieu of flowers, the family asks to give memorials to the missionary of your choice or to Clarenceville United Methodist Church of Livonia, Michigan.
