Elizabeth “Liz” Mae Bennett 98, born April 9, 1922 to Claude Lester and Gladys (Judah) Ball in Middle Grove, Mo., passed away on June 24, 2020 in Lee’s Summit, Mo., and was cremated.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Margie Stockton and grandson, Ryan Goodman.
Liz was an avid reader who never stopped learning. She remembered Middle Grove and Moberly history. She was a secretary for many years, active in BPW and ABWA, and other organizations. She was a prolific letter writer and enjoyed lengthy telephone conversations. She had a great love of cats and horses. As a child she rode an own son of Rex McDonald to school with her sister Margie, racing him along the road prompting calls to home. When 10, she fell asleep at the switchboard, which meant someone had to be dispatched to house to ‘wake up Central’ so calls could get through. As an adult, she could find something to talk about with everyone she met. She never stopped painting her nails and applying lipstick and perfume.
Survivors include her daughter, Melanie Rowley, New Hampton Mo.; sister, Marilyn Hestir, Columbia Mo.; grandchildren, Aaron Goodman Oak Grove Mo., Elizabeth Marquez Lee’s Summit Mo., Norman Hall, Evergreen, Ala./Hebron Utah, and Netta Dorsey, Neenah, Wisc. She has ten great grandchildren, nieces, Nancy and Amy, and nephews, David and Michael Hestir made her a very proud aunt, as did her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Family memorial service was held in Middle Grove, Mo., on Sunday July 5. Nephew, Michael Hestir read from the Bible and family members shared memories of a beloved sister, their Grandma Liz, and their Aunt “E”.