Betty Jean Dawson

Betty Jean Dawson, 82, passed away peacefully, Thursday, June 5, at Foxwood Springs Brookdale Senior Living in Raymore, MO. Visitation will be 11:30-1:00 p.m. followed by funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 11, 2015 at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer, and Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, Mo 64131.

Betty was born June 2, 1933 in Kansas City, KS to John Franklyn and Lola Mae (Manor) Harryman. Betty was a homemaker and a lifelong volunteer. Her service to others began in the 1960’s with association with the Parent Teacher Association, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scouts. Over the next several decades she volunteered at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Red Cross, The American Cancer Society, the Grandview Chamber of Commerce, the Grandview Jaycees, and the Truman Farm Home.

Betty’s association with the Truman Farm Home in Grandview, MO led her to help begin an effort to include the Farm Home into the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site. Those efforts by Betty included a letter writing campaign to members of Congress, various leadership roles, and testimony before a Senate Committee in 1992. In 1994 her dream was realized when Congress moved the home into the historic site portfolio.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, William F. “Bill” Dawson; her father, John Franklyn Harryman; her mother, Lola Mae Harryman; and numerous aunts and uncles. Betty will be missed by her son and daughter-in-law, Dale and Lezlie Dawson of Chanhassen, MN; her daughter and son-in-law, Vickie and Mark Simpson of Louisburg, KS; 4 grandchildren, Cole, Troy, Angela and Shannon; 9 great grandchildren and various cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to The Kansas City Chapter of the American Red Cross, 211 W Armour Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64111 or The American Cancer Society, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64105. Online condolences may be given at www.mtmoriah.net.