Bette Ann (Bates) Morrissey was born to Spence and Lucy (Blakely) Bates on September 20, 1923 in Tecumseh, Nebraska.  She was one of seven children born to this union.  Bette attended Tecumseh Public Schools.

She was united in marriage to Charles “Chuck” Morrissey in 1947.  They ran off to Kansas together to elope with Jo and Dick Piersol.  They had three children, Kristie, Spence and Tim. In 1947, Chuck and Bette started M & M Supply gas station with his father William Morrissey.  Chuck passed away April 23, 1980.

Bette drove a truck at the Lincoln air base during WWII. She was a housewife and mother, drove the school bus for 25 years for Tecumseh Public Schools starting in 1968.  Bette managed the Tecumseh Swimming Pool, played and coached girls’ softball, worked at her sister Helen’s café and was a bartender for the Legion Veteran’s Club.  Bette was a lifetime member of the Tecumseh American Legion Auxiliary.  She became an avid bowler at a young age and bowled for most of her life.  She won many bowling awards and assisted many aspiring bowlers improve their game.  She was a cross word puzzle master.  Bette was a long-time member of the Tecumseh United Methodist Church.

Bette passed away in Tecumseh, Nebraska, September 13, 2018 one week shy of her 95th birthday.

She is survived by her children, Kristie Gilbert of Omaha, Spencer Morrissey and wife Deb and Tim Morrissey and wife Elaine of Tecumseh, grandsons, Robert Morrissey and wife Mindy, Cody Morrissey Nathan Morrissey and wife Nicole, Maxwell Morrissey and Stephanie and Charles Gilbert and wife Jacqueline, granddaughters, Natalie Sabouathone and husband Nai and Samantha Gilbert-Secord, great-grandsons, Trace Gilbert, Wyatt Secord, Lincoln Gilbert, Isaac and Jacob Morrissey, Tristan Sabouathone and Spencer Morrissey, great-granddaughters, Ava Gilbert, Lucy, Norah and Stella Morrissey and Zoe Sabouathone, sister, Norma Jean Anderson of Syracuse, sister-in-law, Luetta Morrissey of Oklahoma City, OK and many nieces and nephews.     

Bette was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Chuck, brothers, Charles Bates and wife Bernice and Bob Bates and wife Herriet, and sisters, Mildred James and husband Bob, Helen McPherrin and husband Mac and Mary Alice Bossung and husband Gene and brother-in-law, Lloyd Andy Anderson.                                                       

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 17, 2018 at the United Methodist Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska with Pastor Rob Clark officiating.

Visitation will be at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska, Sunday, September 16, 2018 from 1-8 p.m., with family greeting friends from 2-4 p.m.

Memorials may go to the family’s choice.

Inurnment will be in the Tecumseh Cemetery, Tecumseh, Nebraska at a later date.

Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.