Obituary of Betty Verl Guy

Betty Verl Corliss was born on April 10, 1925 at Hebron, Nebraska. Betty was the eldest of her nine siblings, Lowell, Lyle, Bert, Mervin, Doris, Lois, Mary, David and Ruth, all of whom were born to Sherman and Grace (Messing) Corliss. As the first born of such a large family, Betty was often tasked with caring for her younger brothers and sisters. The family moved to the Corliss Ranch northeast of Stratton, CO in March of 1934. Life on the plains was not without challenges at that time, and a year after they had settled they were met with a great flood in 1935, which left a lasting impression on Betty. The river changed course as a result of the storm, and the water was as high as some tree tops. Betty remarked that Great Grandpa Corliss built the house with a foundation of stone, which helped it survive intact. Betty and her siblings worked and played hard on the ranch. Betty attended local country schools as a young child, and then Burlington and later Kirk for her high school years. Quite an undertaking for a girl in her early teens, though Betty wasn’t one to shy away from life’s challenges. After high school, Betty went on to Blair Business College in Colorado Springs. When she finished, she was needed back home to teach school during WWII. During that time, some of the classes Betty taught happened to include some of her younger siblings. Betty married Richard Guy on Sept. 20, 1945. They had known each other through mutual family friends, and Richard had just returned from his time in the service. Betty and Richard settled on a farm northwest of Bethune and were married for 59 years before Richard passed in 2004. They had four children, Jane, Edwin, Anne and Ellen. The family embraced life on the farm, and were occupied with an ambitious garden, pigs, cattle, horses and chickens. Richard farmed corn and wheat. Betty started working as a cook at Bethune School for a couple of years, later taking a position as secretary and bookkeeper, and she served there with spirited dedication for 29 years. Principal Jim Poole often remarked that Betty ran the school, only half teasing. She retired in 1990, at which time BHS hosted a community assembly in her honor. In later years Betty thought often on her time spent at BHS, and talked about doing a little of everything there and taking care of the children as if they were her own. Betty was very active in her community, serving as a 4H leader and involved in numerous activities with school and church. Her hands were always busy, whether it was sewing, helping around the farm or her favorite, playing hymns on the piano. Her musical talents led her to play piano at church every Sunday for years at United Methodist Church in Bethune. As a mother, Betty filled the house nightly with music, often as the children were getting ready to go to bed. As a resident at Legacy Assisted Living in Burlington, Betty often played hymns for her neighbors, who would clap after she finished songs. Playing piano was her passion, and she recently said that piano has been like a best friend throughout her life. Betty was preceded in death by her parents Sherman and Grace, husband Richard, her brothers Lyle, Lowell, Mervin, Bert, and her sisters Doris and Ruth; her sister in laws Dee (Lyle), Esther (Mervin), brother in laws Roy Henry (Doris), Ralph Henry (Lois) and Dick Hampton (Ruth). She is also preceded by great grandchildren Stephen and Kristen Guy. She is survived by her children, daughter Sheryl Jane Downey and husband Bill of Pagosa Springs, CO, their daughter Stacie and husband Tim Barks and their child Hank; and daughter Sara and her husband Robert Kirkham and their children Keagen, Mackensie & Harris. Son Edwin Richard and his wife DeAnn of LaCrosse, Ks., and their son Daren and his wife Monica and his daughters Kaili and Kori Guy and her children Kashmir and Delta; son Deric and his two daughters Desmond and her daughter Emerald; and Danielle; daughter DeLynn and her husband Brant and their children Landry, Kelby, Chloe and Zachary. Daughter Anne Victoria and her husband Gerry Cody of Burlington, CO, their children English and her husband TJ Powell and daughter Hadley; and son Jade and daughter Paisley. Daughter Barbara Ellen and her husband Gary Erker of Burlington, CO, her children Kelly and husband Michael Straup and their daughter Elly; and son Jared and his wife Jodie and son Nicholas. Memorial Service to be held at 10:30 am, Friday August 12, 2022 at First Christian Church 1564 Senter Ave. Burlington, CO 80807. Memorials/contributions may be made to Betty Guy Bethune School Scholarships or First Christian Church in Burlington in Betty’s memory and may be left at or sent to Love Funeral Home, 377 15th St., Burlington, CO 80807. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Love Funeral Homes and Monuments in Burlington, CO