Betty Jo Mains, 88, of Mountain Grove, went to be with our Lord the early morning of Tuesday, May 4, 2021, while living at Willard Care Center in Willard. She was born to Joseph and Mabel Smith at home in Bradleyville. Betty worked at the Holiday Inn in Jackson, Mich., from 1966-1978 and became the Kitchen Manager and Head Chef.
While there, she developed a passion for NASCAR and enjoyed cooking meals for many of their drivers such as Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough and Al Unser. Her work ethic was impeccable.
When no one else could make it to work due to Michigan winters, she could be counted on to be there, even via snowmobile, to make meals for the stranded guests. She was an active member of Bethel Baptist Church in Jackson, Mich., where she was a choir member, assisted with VBS, worked in the nursery and taught Jet Cadets (similar to Boy Scouts).
In 1980, Betty and her youngest son moved to Republic, where she continued her passion for cooking in various restaurants. After a few years, she moved to Mountain Grove, and purchased a home. She attended Emmanuel Baptist Church, where she helped organize programs such as VBS and Christmas and Easter plays. She has an amazing talent of making handmade dolls such as authorized Cabbage Patch dolls that were purchased by and sold at Silver Dollar City in Branson. She also successfully completed a Wilton Cake Decorating course and worked as a Master Baker at Richard Brothers Grocery Store in Mountain Grove.
Her other passions included quilt making, working crossword puzzles, gardening, love of domestic and wild animals, and all kinds of card games and board games. At age 68, while recuperating from should surgery, she decided to pursue a long-term goal of completing her high school education and proudly earned her GED. She also had a witty, dry sense of humor and voiced many clever quips such as “Fiddlesticks,” “Horsefeathers,” and “It’s raining pitchforks and hammer handles.”
Betty was married in 1955 to Ray Mains who brought two children to the marriage, Jackie and Larry. Together, they had two children, Susanne and Emory.
Betty is preceded in death by her first-born son, Ronald Joe; both parents; brother, Ray; stepson, Larry; sister, Georgia Mae; and grandson, Joseph. She is survived by her stepdaughter, Jackie (George), of Connecticut; daughter, Susanne, of Springfield; and son, Emory (Sheila), of Springfield; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home in Springfield, on Friday, May 14, 2021, at 2 p.m. To send flowers to the family of Betty Jo Mains, please visit our Tribute Store. In lieu of flowers, you may send a donation in honor of Betty Jo Mains to The Springfield Humane Society, 3161 W Norton, Road, Springfield, Mo. 65803.
Care and arrangements have been entrusted to Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, Ltd. – DeGraffenreid-Wood-Crematory, Springfield.
