Monday, June 4, 2012

Bette (Barnes) McGinnis 1921-2007

Bette McGinnis, daughter of the late John E. and Della A. (Allen) Barnes, was born October 27, 1921 in Oran, Scott County, Missouri. Bette grew up in Oran and graduated from high school there in 1939. Then she attended Southeast Missouri State College in Cape Girardeau, graduating with a degree in Secondary Education.

On June 20, 1942 Bette married Everett Davis "Mac" McGinnis in Fort Ord, California. Bette and Mac shared 42 years of marriage before Mac's death on August 24, 1984.

Mac had a career in the Army, resulting in the two of them moving frequently. While Mac was gone for his first overseas assignment after their marriage, Bette taught in the Oran school system, and at other times when she accompanied Mac to assignments she would serve as a substitute teacher. During the period 1953 to 1956 Mac was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, after which they both went to Berlin for his next assignment. Following the Berlin assignment Mac was transferred back to Fort Wood and they decided to stay in this area when Mac retired in 1960. Thus, Bette was a Waynesville resident for the last 46 years of her life.

Bette enjoyed working with her hands, especially with needlework or sewing. She was an accomplished duplicate bridge player. She started and directed the duplicate bridge club at Fort Wood and later moved the game off-post, where she was instrumental in encouraging many people to become interested in the game of bridge. Bette was a life-long member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Oran, Missouri.

Bette passed away at the Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla on January 11, 2007 at the age of 85 years, 2 months and 14 days.

Bette was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her sister, Anita Barnes.

Bette will be sadly missed by many friends, including Bill and Sharlene Morgan of Rolla; Louise and Julie Morgan of Oakland, CA; and Judy Fisher, Linda Olney and Linda Kinder of Waynesville.

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