Betty Jane Abernathy

OBITUARY

BETTY JANE ABERNATHY

11/04/1929 - 05/14/2025

“THE DASH”

Born to Willie Francis Rice and Clementine Betty Rice November 4, 1929, the youngest child of their union. Born in Wetumka, OK, Betty was raised in Bowlegs, OK graduating from Bowlegs High School. Having survived the antics of her older brothers(jumping off the roof of their home with 2 buckets of sand and her own mischievous nature of stealing her brothers motorcycle along with her best friend Jody, and trying to out run a large mad dog on a sandy dirt road), Betty went on to study nursing receiving her RN from Hillcrest Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She would marry Darrel Abernathy in Seminole, OK in April of 1951 and would spend the next twenty years travelling with Darrel to various duty stations with the Air Force. Finally settling in Cheyenne, WY, she and Darrel would become gentleman and gentlewoman ranchers purchasing 40-acres of land north of Cheyenne and building their dream home and raising their 3 children Bill, Lee Ann and Lyn Dale. She continued nursing at Memorial Hospital of Cheyenne becoming an oncology nurse/enterstomal therapist aiding many enduring the ravages of cancer and becoming Hospital Employee of the Year for 1971 and 1986.

Years after both having retired, Darrel suffered a debilitating stroke, and Betty became a full-time caregiver until his death in 2008. After 6 years of living alone in the home they had built together north of Cheyenne, she decided to sell her property and move to Primrose Retirement Community residing there until her death.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Millmo (dying at infancy), Kenneth Rice and Edgar Dale Rice (MIA/KIA in North Korea). She is survived by her children Bill Abernathy(Miriam), Lee Ann Hernandez(Frank) and Lyn Dale Mercado(Miguel). Grandchildren Kristina Blackburn (Charles) Amelia Flores (Rudy), Derek Ryan Hernandez (Angel), Taylor Ross Hernandez (Kayla), Austin Mercado (Rachael) and Amber Nelson (Alex). Great grandchildren Keaton Blackburn, Ian and Milo Flores, Rowan and Renan Hernandez and Theodore Nelson and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held at 2PM May 22, 2025, at First United Methodist Church at 108 E. 18th Street, Cheyenne, WY. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice in her memory would be greatly appreciated by the family.