Betty Louise Waits, age 87, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Friday, May 8, 2026 at Morningside Center, Chillicothe, Missouri. She was born the daughter of Walter J. and Katherine L. (McLaughlin) Smith on November 23, 1938 in Harris, Missouri. She was a 1956 graduate of Meadville High School, Meadville, Missouri. Betty was united in marriage to Donald Waits on August 19, 1956 in Chillicothe, Missouri. He survives of the home. Betty was a hard worker, she worked at Chillicothe Livestock Auction, MFA Agribusiness, a jewelry store and was a cashier at HyVee at one time. Her love, however, was working on the farm with Don. She raised thousands of hogs over several years. In addition to the hogs, she provided for her family from the garden by canning and raised chickens for meat and eggs. She also enjoyed sewing and quilting, even had a quilting machine.
Betty is survived by her husband, Don; sons, Jim (Kathy) Waits of Meadville, Missouri, and Donald Steven (Annette) Waits; daughter, Cathie Hershey of Jefferson City, Missouri; six grandchildren, Jennifer (Jeffery) Allred, Stephanie Hershey, Lauren (Doug) Henry, Dana (Josh) Robins, Daniel (Madison) Hershey, and Amanda Waits; five great grandchildren, Joanne, Jolene, Caroline, Creed and Natalie; and one sister, Bonnie Jones of Farmington, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Andrew Dale Smith.
Graveside services will be held at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Chillicothe, Missouri on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. A visitation will be held at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri one hour prior to the graveside service, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. The register book will be available to sign at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Shirkey Hospice and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri
Source: KMZU, The Farm
