Betty Stice Kirk

Betty Stice Page was born in Joplin, MO on December 13th, 1925, to Mary Rosalie (Barnes) and James Carl Page. She was raised in Baxter Springs, KS along with her three siblings - Carlene Marie, James Robert (Bob or Brother), and Rosemary. Her parents divorced during her early years, after which her mother, Rosa, became the anchor of the tight-knit family and remained so their entire lives. Betty adored Rosa, spoke of "Mother" often, and took every opportunity to emulate her. "Anybody can be slow" her mother would tell her, and to be sure Betty was not going to be just "anybody". From a very young age, Betty loved performing and making people smile. She started by taking dance lessons from her sister, Carlene, where her favorite dance was tap. She soon added a love of singing and performed throughout her high school years, where her bubbly personality earned her the nickname "Bubbles." She was active in several choirs in her later Tulsa years including the Hyechka Club, and for over 40 years sang every Sunday in the Southminster Presbyterian Church Choir. Even in her late 80s, she would still pull out her tap shoes and tap dance on her garage floor (where her sons were sure she'd break a hip). After graduating high school, Betty joined her sister Rosemary in Tulsa, where she met James Azariah Kirk, truly the love of her life. They married on October 19th, 1947, shortly after Jim finished his time in the US Army. Together they had two sons, James Arthur and Gary Randall. While Betty had several interesting accounting jobs during her life, her most unique job was Payroll Clerk for the German POWs stationed in OK during WW II. However, more than anything, Betty prided herself on her role as mother, wife and homemaker. Betty had a competitive passion for games. Her preference was always Bridge, but she would play any game of any kind, even if it was one her grandkids taught her. She did like to win, but she loved to play more. She was active in many bridge clubs, playing nearly every day of the week, often for pennies but the game was gold to her. She once took Julianne to her bridge club, who sat on her lap and watched. She looked up at Betty and said, "Grandma, do you play pass?" which was a story she shared often. Later she would say she was going to go play "pass". No one loved playing games with her more than her grandchildren. She taught them the gamut of dice games, board games, Uno, "Rain Out Baseball" poker, slap jack, solitaire and more - all under the direction of her sharp eye and quick wit. The grandchildren cherish memories of many summer afternoons sitting around the kitchen table with Grandma and Papaw with a fierce game of Go Fish, Uno or Boggle. Julianne and Jim would spend the night with Grandma and Papaw, waking up the next morning to have "Puppet shows" at the foot of the bed. Grandma and Papaw were always SO funny - using plushies, socks or scarves as puppets and improvising a silly story to make the children laugh, particularly if they woke up missing mom and dad just a little bit. Being "Grandma" was likely Betty's favorite role during her incredibly rich life. She reveled in the accomplishments of each grandchild, quick to applaud their efforts and generous with her praise. She inspired her two eldest grandchildren to dance in their earlier years and was incredibly proud when they performed for 8 years in Tulsa Ballet's The Nutcracker and other productions. She also cherished the times all four grandchildren assembled as a marching band parading through her living room banging on pots and pans, all the while "Papaw" snoozing (and likely snoring) through the entire ordeal. She loved to teach her granddaughter tap steps and for a time they shared the same shoe size. Though Julianne tried, Betty was the star tap dancer! Whatever her grandchildren did, it was the very best she'd ever seen...but she also gave each of them boundaries that they will carry with them for a lifetime. Betty's rules were not harsh, just good common sense that is hard to argue with: "No cheating at Uno" (which they mostly ignored (especially Matt when he stacked the deck) "Shoes come off in the house" "No soda pop until 5. Then ask, don't just take one" (her refrigerator was always fully stocked) "You are too old to use a baby bottle or a pacifier" (she would take it at the door) "Wash your hands" "Can't never did anything" "Be kind to one another" "Treat others the way you wish to be treated" "Clean up the messes you made and help others with their messes" Betty was an incredible baker with her repertoire of pies including chocolate meringue, lemon meringue, apple, pecan and pumpkin. Tammy recalls being awestruck at the most beautiful chocolate meringue pie she'd ever seen when she had her first dinner at Betty's house. Betty always loved celebrating every birthday and holiday. Each meant a special meal and a cake or pie, or both. She spoiled each child and grandchild with their own favorite foods - baked potatoes for Jim, "grandma minis" (pancakes) for Matthew and Pat, yellow cake with chocolate icing for Ann and Tammy, but Devil's food cake with Divinity icing ("dichotomy cake") for everyone else...and the list runs on endlessly. She used food to let everyone know they were special in their own way. The family loved gathering for "Goulash" at grandma's house. She also knew how everyone took their iced tea - no sugar, 1 scoop, 2 scoops, 6 scoops or just water. She lined the glasses up by birth order and always knew who received what. She graciously shared her recipes and techniques, teaching Julianne how to make the most perfect pie crust and meringue. On other occasions, she taught her grandchildren how to make her beloved "Goulash", candied pecans and Rosa's spaghetti and cheese. If you knew Betty, you know that she believed that cleanliness was next to Godliness and yard cleanliness wasn't far behind. She prided herself on her immaculate home and yard, both were always well-groomed (and she might make note if yours wasn't). Betty took pride in her food garden and would enlist the grandkids to help plant and pick strawberries, watermelon and corn. Julianne also loved Grandma's peonies which inspired her to plant her own peonies in her garden. Laughter was a close second to Cleanliness. She never met a child that she didn't make laugh. She was a ham at every party and until her last day, she was cutting up with the nurses and her sons. Getting a laugh was one of the most rewarding things in life. Funny faces, silly songs, impromptu dance steps, her own version of Pig Latin (holfobolfo) or the odd colorful joke or toast - Betty never disappointed in bringing a smile to people's faces. She used to joke her initials "B.S.K." stood for "Bull-Shit-King" which always got a laugh from her grandchildren who would say "Grandma, you said a curse word!" Beyond her family, Betty cherished her dear friends from Southminster, her clubs and her neighbors. She loved her role as a deacon in the church and delivering meals through Meals on Wheels. She believed in supporting friends with a kind word or a piece (a rather large piece) of pie, whatever might help in the situation. After losing Jim, Betty lived nearly 20 more years, all in her home until the last few months of her life. She demonstrated a fierce independence and inner strength, admired by family and friends alike. Betty passed peacefully on October 4th, 2022, surrounded by family. She is preceded in death by her parents; Mary Rosalie (Barnes) Page and James Carl Page; her siblings, Carlene Mitchell (Leroy), James Robert Page (Mary), Rosemary Word (Sam); and her husband James (Jim) Kirk. She leaves behind her two loving sons, James (Tamra) Kirk, Gary (Ann Tierney) Kirk, as well as her four grandchildren, Julianne Kirk (Brian) Doyle, James Andrew (Tion) Kirk, Patrick Alan (Christina Nistler) Kirk and Matthew Thomas (Laura Chapman) Kirk. Finally, she leaves her four great grandchildren (to whom she chose to be known as "Gigi" in lieu of "Great Grandma" when Allie was born), Allie Aurora Doyle, Brennan Kirk Doyle, Elliot James Kirk and Eleanor Jeane Kirk. She brought joy to all and will be missed by many. Without her the world is a bit less merry, but the heavens are certainly enriched. Memories of her will continue to bring a smile or a laugh to all of those who knew her. Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to Southminster Presbyterian Music Program or to the Alzheimer's Association. There will be a visitation for Ms. Kirk on Sunday, October 16 from 4-6pm at Moore Southlawn Chapel, 9350 E 51st St, Tulsa, OK. Graveside services will be held on Monday, October 17th at 2pm at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5111 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK There will also be a Memorial Service for Ms. Kirk at 2PM on December 29th at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 3500 S Peoria Ave, Tulsa, OK Moore Funeral Home- Southlawn Chapel 918-663-2233

Betty Stice Kirk

December 13, 1925 - October 4, 2022