Betty Delay

Betty DeLay was born November 30, 1928, in Enid, Oklahoma to Minnie (Archer) Boruff and Daniel Boruff. Betty was the seventh child.  She had three brothers, Harvey, Joe, and John Wesley and three sisters, Leona, Evalyn, and Vivian. She lived north of Jefferson the first 12 years of her life. Betty and her family then moved north of Numa, Oklahoma, where she attended Deer Creek schools for two years and played on the basketball team, playing the clarinet in the band, and singing in the chorus.  Betty moved to Medford with her parents her Junior year of High School. She graduated from Medford High school in 1946.

Betty went to work at the Paul Courtney Drug Store on the corner of Main Street in Medford. On July 4, 1946, she had her first date with Jack DeLay. They were engaged on September 16, 1946 and married on January 18, 1947, in Enid at the Methodist Church Parsonage. Bertha and Jack Downing were their witnesses.  In 1947 the DeLay family sold their produce business and moved with their families to Merna, Nebraska, where they opened an auto repair garage. Her sons, Allen and Bob, were born during their time in Nebraska.  Betty, Jack, and the boys moved back to Medford in the spring of 1950. Jack and Betty bought their first house in 1956 and Betty went to work for the Medford School Lunch Program. She retired after 35 years of service.

Betty loved to sew! She made dress suits, men’s sport coats, ties, formals for proms, wedding dresses, and bridesmaids’ dresses. She also provided alterations for women’s clothing. She loved to garden and crochet. She produced a plethora of afghans!

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Dan and Minnie; her husband, Jack, and her siblings, Harvey Boruff, Joe Boruff, John Wesly Boruff, Leona White, Evalyn Buffalo, and Vivian Schulke.

Betty is survived by her two sons and their wives,  Allen J. DeLay and his wife, Marilyn of Mt. Vernon, Missouri and Robert E. DeLay and his wife, Gayla of Tulsa, Oklahoma;  six grandchildren,  Brad DeLay and his wife, Cathy of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, Jason DeLay of Miami Florida, Melissa Billings and husband, Chris of Gardner, Kansas, Defawna Sanchez of Henderson, Nevada, Misty Hill and husband, Matt of Edmond Oklahoma, and Kevin DeLay of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  She has twelve great grandchildren,  Heather Rice and husband, Zack of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, Christopher DeLay of Springfield, Missouri, Abby DeLay of Springfield, Missouri, Jenna DeLay of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, Cole Billings of Lawrence, Kansas, Caeley Billings of Gardner, Kansas, Gabriella Bolanos of Edmond, Oklahoma, Jaclynn Bolanos of Edmond, Oklahoma, Cannon Hill of Edmond, Oklahoma, Olivia Ebner of Henderson, Nevada, Charlotte DeLay of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Florence DeLay of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and three great, great grandchildren, Emma, Harper, and Aubrey Rice of Mt. Vernon, Missouri.

Funeral service for Betty will be Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. at Church of the Nazarene in Medford.     Burial will follow the service at Rosemound Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Medford.  Viewing will be Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home.    www.lanmanmemorials.com  Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

Memorials may be given to Church of the Nazarene of Medford or Gideon’s International through the funeral home.