Betty Boney

Betty (Moody) Boney, age 88, died peacefully on October 1, 2024. Betty was born on October 9, 1935 in Bentonville, Arkansas to Hugh and Eunice (Allen) Moody. She later moved to Pittsburg, Kansas and graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1953 with her High School Diploma. Betty married Ronald “Ron” Leroy Boney in 1964 after a whirlwind romance of just five months, with their first formal date on New Year’s Eve in 1963. After moving to Gladstone, Missouri, on Memorial Day in 1965, she became a homemaker for the household. Her daughters remember her as a tender, caring, loving, and giving mother who encouraged her eldest to pursue her college degrees and her youngest to believe that she was strong, important, and capable of all that was possible of others. Betty was passionate about and a pioneer for children and adults with developmental disabilities, especially individuals with Down syndrome. She was an active member of the Arc of Clay and Platte Counties for many years. She was President of the Arc for four years, had been an Arc Board Member and had volunteered at the Arc Thrift Store in Gladstone, Missouri in the store’s early years and later on in her life. In 2001, along with her husband, she was presented with the VSI Parent/Guardian of the Year and in 2016, the Benedictine Sisters Award for Outstanding Advocacy for Life Unlimited, Inc. All throughout the 1960s, she was a member of the Beta Epsilon Phi Sorority, whose motto is “life, learning, and friendship.” She was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.

Betty enjoyed doing the New York Time’s crossword as well as jigsaw and word search puzzles. She loved to bake, cook, and watch PBS shows. During her time at Our Lady of Mercy Country Home, she enjoyed playing bingo, exercise class, getting her nails done, and going on outings with her retirement community.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, William “Ted” Moody; and her husband, Ron.

Betty is survived by her daughters, Karen (Larry G.) Walker and Rhonda Boney, as well as nieces, nephews and extended family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to VSI (Vocational Services, Inc.) at 935 Kent Street, Liberty, Missouri 64068.

The family would like to thank the nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors at North Kansas City Hospital and Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care for all of their attention and care with dignity for Betty. The family would also like to thank Larry G. Walker, son-in-law, for his attention and support for Betty, as well as Karen and Rhonda.