Betty Ruth Kirksey
September 16th, 1935 - March 16th, 2025
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Betty's Obituary
Betty passed away in the morning of March 16th, 2025, surrounded by love and care in the comfort of her home in St Joseph, Michigan.
The Kirksey family will be holding a memorial service for Betty at 2pm, Sunday, March 30, 2025 at the Benton Harbor Church of Christ,1495 East Empire, Benton Harbor, MI.
Born August 16th, 1935 in Hackleburg Alabama, Betty was the oldest daughter of Presley and Velma Nixola Barnwell. At the age of 20, after a memorable courtship, she married Delmer Kirksey on a rainy October day in St. Joseph, Michigan, sharing their vows for 62 years.
Growing up in Benton Harbor and graduating from Benton Harbor High School, Betty had many wonderful memories of the area and always had a good story to share. Betty was a devout member of the Benton Harbor Church of Christ, where she had many lifelong friendships and a loving community. Known for her beautiful and delicious cakes, Betty’s Cakes in Stevensville MI, had a loyal following throughout S.W. Michigan. Betty was a baker for many years, blessed to find her life-long passion and share it with so many. After a long career of baking cakes, Betty worked as a cashier until her retirement. Betty was most known for her love of animals; she always had cats and dogs, taking in animals when they needed a home, even a pet groundhog, Oscar, who the Herald Palladium used for their yearly groundhog article. When Betty wasn’t baking, she enjoyed playing croquet and cards, making food, and crocheting.
Betty will be deeply missed and remembered by her sister, Shirley Gustafson; her daughter, Kassandra Kirksey; her son, Roger Kirksey and wife, Jennifer Kirksey; 10 grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Delmer Kirksey; her parents; her son, Kevin Kirksey; and her brothers, Charles and Larry Barnwell.
Memorials may be made to Paws of Hope, www.pawsofhope.org or the Benton Harbor Church of Christ.
The Kirksey family will be holding a memorial service for Betty at 2pm, Sunday, March 30, 2025 at the Benton Harbor Church of Christ,1495 East Empire, Benton Harbor, MI.
Born August 16th, 1935 in Hackleburg Alabama, Betty was the oldest daughter of Presley and Velma Nixola Barnwell. At the age of 20, after a memorable courtship, she married Delmer Kirksey on a rainy October day in St. Joseph, Michigan, sharing their vows for 62 years.
Growing up in Benton Harbor and graduating from Benton Harbor High School, Betty had many wonderful memories of the area and always had a good story to share. Betty was a devout member of the Benton Harbor Church of Christ, where she had many lifelong friendships and a loving community. Known for her beautiful and delicious cakes, Betty’s Cakes in Stevensville MI, had a loyal following throughout S.W. Michigan. Betty was a baker for many years, blessed to find her life-long passion and share it with so many. After a long career of baking cakes, Betty worked as a cashier until her retirement. Betty was most known for her love of animals; she always had cats and dogs, taking in animals when they needed a home, even a pet groundhog, Oscar, who the Herald Palladium used for their yearly groundhog article. When Betty wasn’t baking, she enjoyed playing croquet and cards, making food, and crocheting.
Betty will be deeply missed and remembered by her sister, Shirley Gustafson; her daughter, Kassandra Kirksey; her son, Roger Kirksey and wife, Jennifer Kirksey; 10 grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Delmer Kirksey; her parents; her son, Kevin Kirksey; and her brothers, Charles and Larry Barnwell.
Memorials may be made to Paws of Hope, www.pawsofhope.org or the Benton Harbor Church of Christ.
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