Bettie J. (Thacker) Woods, 86, of Warrensburg, died Monday, July 23, in Warrensburg, Missouri, surrounded by loving family.

Friends were received from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home and a celebration of life service was held 11 a.m. Friday, July 27, at Sweeney Phillips-Holdren Funeral Home with Pastor Ernest Jennings officiating.

She was born Nov. 29, 1931, in Jefferson City, Missouri, to Orville and Sadie Roark. She was the third child in a bustling family of siblings: Geraldine, Bonnie, Norma, Leon and Carolyn. On Sept. 27, 1951, she was united in marriage to James Dorsey Thacker, with whom she had four daughters: Jean, Judy, Pamela and Shelia.

The family moved to Warrensburg in 1960 as James worked for the Missouri National Guard. They were married for 23 years before he passed away suddenly in 1974.

Bettie was a godly woman and never lost sight of her faith through life’s challenges, especially being widowed at such a young age. She lived a full and rich life as a mother, grandmother of 11 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, who were the light of her life. She loved hearing stories about each one of her grandchildren and congratulating and celebrating them through marriages, children and educational achievements.

On June 19, 1994, she found love again with H. Edward Woods, and married in Versailles, Missouri, moving there to care for her beloved sister, Geri, as she battled cancer. Making Versailles her home, she and Edward lived there for almost 20 years before his passing in 2011.

Bettie moved back to Warrensburg to be closer to family in early 2016, and enjoyed visiting with her children and grandchildren often. Bettie often spoke with joy about meeting her Lord and Savior when she passed on. As a woman of strong faith, our family rejoices in the fact that she is in Heaven, reminiscing and singing her favorite hymns with all of her loved ones gone before.

She is survived by her daughters, Jean Howard, Nixa, Missouri; Judy Tufano and husband Joe, Camdenton, Missouri; Pam Wissman, Warrensburg; and Shelia Riffel and husband Gene, Herington, Kansas; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters Norma Bledsoe, Carolyn Hanmore and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

In addition to her parents and husbands James and Edward, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Geraldine Monteer, Leon Roark, Bonnie Baker and an infant sister, Mary Lou Roark.

Contributions may be made to Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. Checks may be left in care of the funeral home or atwww.jsm.org.