Betty Rose Leatherman

Betty was born on April 26, 1926, in Kansas City, KS, to Ora and Grace Proctor. She spent her childhood in KCK, with happy summer visits to her aunt and uncle’s farm in the Topeka area. Betty graduated from Wyandotte High School on May 26, 1944, and began working at Williams Meat Company as a bookkeeper.

A Wilson Meat Company employee was at Williams one day and spotted her. He thought she was cute and asked her out. That was the start of her life with Raymond G. Leatherman. Ray and Betty were married on March 23, 1947, at the Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe, KS. They were married for 41 years until Ray’s untimely death in 1988 from heart disease.

Betty then began work as a dental assistant for a local practice until her retirement. She was a wonderful grandmother who helped with childcare for her grandchildren, and they loved her deeply. She lived in her current home from 1961 until her passing and enjoyed tending to her annual flower beds. Betty was an active 99-year-old up to the day of her stroke, playing cards, caring for her pets, and eating out with family and friends.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her brother, Harry Proctor; and a nephew, Mark Proctor. She is survived by her children, Cathy R. Cross, Kansas City, KS; Robert O. Leatherman (Susan), Olathe, KS; and Terry D. Leatherman (Sharon), Lawrence, KS. She is also survived by her sister, Dorothy Danise (DD) Trego of Richmond, MO, nephews Chris and Loring Trego, and niece Georgia Proctor.

She had eight grandchildren – Kimberly Leatherman, Angela Calhoun, Lisa Cross, Trisha Yockey, Robin Leatherman, Cory Leatherman, Raymond Leatherman, and Kelly Leatherman. Betty was also a great-grandmother to fourteen.

Betty was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. She will be remembered on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 11:00 am at Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, 701 N. 94th St, Kansas City, KS, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. Interment at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens will immediately follow the service.