Doris Evelyn Gustafson

Doris Evelyn Gustafson passed away peacefully at the home of her oldest daughter, Shirley Buttram, of Leeton, MO on April 1, 2013 with her daughters Shirley and Cindy Haydon at her side. The family gathered Easter weekend to spend time with Doris, to celebrate her life; laughing, loving and reminiscing about their special family memories with her.

Doris was born May 27, 1919 to Joe Bettencourt and Ellanor Borges Bettencourt in Irwin, CA and grew up on the family dairy ranch in Hilmar, CA. In 1937 she graduated from Hilmar High School. Upon graduation she stayed in the area and went to work as the office secretary, and bus driver, at Hilmar High School. When not working at the high school Doris supported the war effort as a plane spotter and also on the board in charge of rationing sugar stamps. During this time she met Harley Gustafson, who was stationed in the area with the US Army, and married two years later, April 1, 1944 in Salinas, CA. After Harley’s discharge in 1945 they moved to Kansas City, MO, and lived in Wichita, KS and Clinton, MO before settling in Kansas City. It was here they raised their family and built a life supporting and loving their children and family. From 1963 through 1985 Doris touched the lives of hundreds of Center High School students and teachers where she worked as an office secretary until her retirement. She was a member of First Covenant Church. In 2007 Doris moved to Harmony Gardens in Warrensburg, MO.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harley G Gustafson and her son Robert Harley Gustafson. Doris is survived by daughters Shirley A Buttram and husband Tom and Cynthia E Haydon and husband Handy; grandson Justin Buttram and wife Diane, granddaughters Emily Rewerts and husband Dan, Amy Wescott and husband Craig, and Julie Wilson and husband Brandon; great grandchildren Hailey and Conner Buttram, Harley, Jack and Charlotte Rewerts, Caroline and Claire Wescott, and Haydon and Will Wilson.

Visitation will be held at 12:00 p.m. Friday, April 5, with the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Rd. Burial to follow in Mount Moriah Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions to Gospel Tract Society, PO Box 1118, Independence, MO 64050.