Betty Louise (Pulley) Tennison, 89, of Cabool, formerly of Lebanon, died Monday, April 4, 2022, in Houston, Mo.
She was born Oct. 25, 1932, near Prosperine, Mo. to John and Marie Kimbell Pulley.
On Oct. 21, 1950, she was united in marriage to Ralph Clayton Tennison.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph; their son Jay Tennison; one brother and sister-in-law, Derl Pulley and his wife Liz.
When Betty was six months old the family moved to Treese, Kan., Idaho, Utah, and eventually returned to Lebanon Missouri in the fall of 1937. Betty attended Lebanon Public School, graduating from high school in May of 1950. While in school she worked at the Star Theater, the school office, and for the Rotary Club. After graduating, she worked at Donald’s Farm Implement business office. Shortly after Ralph and Betty were married, Ralph was drafted into the Army and was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. After Sherry’s birth, Betty and her infant daughter moved to Texas to be with Ralph. When Ralph received his orders to go to Korea in June of 1952, Betty returned to Lebanon and lived there until 2010 when they moved to Cabool, Mo. to be close to their daughter and her family. Betty was always a hard worker. Throughout her many years in Lebanon, she worked in a variety of places around town. She worked at the HD Lee Factory while her children were young and later held various secretary positions including 26 years in chiropractic offices. She greatly enjoyed her time serving as the secretary of Second Baptist Church and then at Drury University before retiring in December 2004.
Betty was saved and baptized as a young adult. She was a member of Second Baptist Church in Lebanon.
She is survived by her daughter Sherry Allen and husband Gary of Cabool; grandchildren, Jeff and Julie Allen, Billy and Karen Moore, Jeremy and Renae Tennison, and Scott and Brandy Tennison; great-grandchildren Cody, Jake and Jessyn Allen, Kyle (Sarah) and Bailey Moore, Hunter and Avery Tennison, Carli and Beau Tennison and one special great great-grandchild, Tripp Jay Moore; a brother-in-law, Jackie Tennison and wife Judy of Topeka, Kan.; sister-in law Rowena Calton-Cobb and husband Terry of Buffalo, and many special nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
A graveside service and burial for Betty Louise (Pulley) Tennison will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 8, 2022, at Mount Rose Memorial Park with Roger Marshall officiating, under the direction of Shadel’s Colonial Chapel of Lebanon.
Visitation will also be on Friday beginning at noon until departure for the cemetery at Shadel’s Colonial Chapel
Memorials have been suggested to Texas County Library (117 W. Walnut St., Houston, Mo. 65483). Donations can also be left at or mailed to Shadel’s Colonial Chapel, P.O. Box 948 or 1001 N. Lynn, Lebanon, Mo. 65536. Sign guest book at www.shadelscolonialchapel.com.
