Betty L. Manuel
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our sweet Betty Lou Manuel, 97, on December 14, 2024. She was born March 11, 1927, in Cement, Oklahoma, to John J. Rasberry and Bertha D. (Sitterding) Rasberry. Betty graduated from Cement Public High School in 1944, and married John E. Manuel in 1948 in Lawton. He died December 17, 1985.
Betty began working in 1945 when she was hired by the Civil Service at Ft. Sill, until the end of the war. She then began a career as a bookkeeper in the banking and real estate businesses in Lawton, and later in Tulsa. After “retirement” in 1989, she worked for the CPA firm of Connally and Associates in Tulsa. Ms. Manuel was a member of the Lawton Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), charter member of Creek Lands Chapter of DAR, Broken Arrow, Ok, charter member of the Francis A. Lassiter Chapter of United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), and the Great Granddaughters Club of UDC. Once she moved back to Lawton, she continued to do the bookkeeping for several small businesses. Betty volunteered her time to the Board of Directors for Lawton Mobile Meals, where she served as treasurer. Never one to keep still, she loved working in her yard, knitting, and late in life caught the quilting bug. “I don’t like black quilts” – and then she made one! Some of her favorite sayings were: “It’s just the way things are.” “What’s the number to 911?” “He’ll have a cowboy hat on.” If she was having a hard time with something, she borrowed her grandmother’s saying, “I can do it because I’m a Rasberry!” She was always so much fun, a quick wit, and a good listener.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Jacquelyn Rasberry, daughter Barbara Nickell, and son-in-law Wilson Nickell.
Betty leaves behind her beloved dog, Tinkerbell, who could do no wrong, and who turned Betty into a dog whisperer. To cherish all the memories, she leaves her adopted daughter Janie K. Lewis and husband Kyle, Lawton, and their daughter Kelly (Josh) Ashley, Columbus, OH, and dear friends B.J., Maurine and Sharon, her all-time favorite work, life-long friend. She will be missed deeply, but we remember the times she made us laugh (The Attic Fiasco), made us a dessert (Butterfinger Cheesecake), and allowed us to spend an evening together watching old movies. Here’s looking at you, kid.
Graveside service will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery, Chickasha at 2:00pm, Friday, December 20, 2024, under the direction of McRay Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions can be made to the St. Paul Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 910 NW 38th St, Lawton, OK 73505.
