Beatrice (Betty) Ann McDermott, 99, passed away peacefully at the Groves in Independence, MO, on June 9, 2021. Betty was born May 21, 1922, in Chadron, NE. Her parents were Bernard and Theresa (Letcher) McDermott. She was the oldest of five children. Her father worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad and her family moved from Chadron to Omaha in the 1930s. By 1935 the family had moved to Falls City, NE. She graduated from Falls City High School in 1940.
After high school, she began working for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad. While with the railroad, one of her jobs included tracking mileage, using a machine that was a precursor to the computer. Betty and her mother moved to Kansas City in the mid-1950s, where she continued working for Missouri-Pacific.
In 1963, when her mother moved back to Falls City, Betty moved to Walnut Creek in the San Francisco Bay area where her younger sister Shirley lived. Her first job in the Bay Area was with The American President Lines (shipping and passenger cruise line). A few years later, she began working for Emporium-Capwell Department Stores in management for over 20 years. Soon after she retired from Emporium-Capwell, Betty moved back to Falls City to care for her elderly mother. She purchased a house where she and her mother lived. Her mother died in 1994. Betty loved her home and remained there until moving into an independent senior apartment in White Oak at the Groves in Independence, MO, in 2017, where she could be closer to two of her nieces. In March of 2020, Betty moved to an assisted living apartment in White Oak. Betty and her family appreciated the kindness of her caregivers in assisted living.
Betty always enjoyed reading, playing Bridge, and spending time with family and friends. As an avid reader, Betty volunteered her time helping others learn to read. When in California, she enjoyed traveling, especially trips to wine country. She was an enthusiastic sports fan – following the Kansas City A’s while living in Kansas City during the 1950s and then followed them when they moved to Oakland. Upon returning to the Midwest, she started following the Kansas City Royals. She also enjoyed watching football. Her favorite teams included the University of Nebraska, any team Tom Brady played for and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Proceeding Betty in death were her parents, her sisters Regina Woolsoncroft and Shirley McLaughlin, brothers Patrick McDermott and Bernard J. McDermott, sister-in-law Mary Pat McDermott, brothers-in-law Dale Woolsoncroft and Gene McLaughlin, and nephew Bernard McDermott.
Survivors include sister-in-law Gladys McDermott, nieces Sharlin McDermott, Kelly (Arthur) Freeland, Shelly McLaughlin, and Michelle (Michael) Rogers, and nephews John (Marie) Woolsoncroft and Brian McLaughlin, as well as great-nieces and nephews.
Betty was a beloved aunt, sister, daughter and friend. She will be missed and all lives she touched have been enriched by her gentle manner and kindness.
The family plans a private celebration of her life this summer. For anyone wishing to honor her life, please consider donating to a public or school library of your choice.
