Betty Jo (Kimzey) Lawler Wallo first saw the light of day March 1, 1929 in a home down by “French Bridge” road, southwest of the big town of Tightwad, Missouri. She was the oldest child of Edward “Fritz” and Jewell Adah (Clark) Kimzey. Shortly after her birth they moved to the farm place where she grew up.
Betty Jo attended Pretty Bob Grade School, just north of their home until high school, then attended Coal High School, graduating in the class of 1946. After graduation, as a young adult, she got a job in Clinton, MO working at a small retail store. As life progressed, she met a young man named Eldon Lawler and they were married July 23, 1949. To this union they were blessed with 7 children, including 2 who died in infancy. They raised their family east of Clinton on the same farm where Eldon was born and raised. Being a farm wife with 5 children, “work was plentiful” to say the least. While Eldon attended to the fields, beef cattle, milking cows by hand and tending to sheep, Betty Jo had chickens for eggs, big gardens, (canning and preserving), etc., all the harvest there of as well as doing all the house work involved in that time period. Both Betty Jo and Eldon went through the depression years as youngsters, making them both tough and resilient. Those qualities followed them both all their lives. Making due with what the Good Lord put in front of them, as well as doing without things that were needed, was often a fact of life. They had shared almost 43 years together as husband and wife at the time of Eldon’s untimely death in April, 1992.
Several years later, Betty Jo met Ted Wallo, and after a courtship they were married December 4, 2002, and lived their lives in Clinton, MO. They enjoyed several happy years together as a married couple until Ted passed away in August, 2011 at their home in Clinton.
Betty Jo lived the rest of her life in Clinton. She still gardened, had many nice flowers that she tended to and above all enjoyed any and all visits from family and friends. Most important to her were her visits from her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren!
She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband Eldon Lawler; second husband, Ted Wallo; two infant daughters, Jo Ellen and Donna May; one son, Gary Lawler; daughter-in-law, Tammy Lawler; sisters, Connie Green and Dorothy Kenney; brother, Jim Kimzey; and grandson Zachary Lampton.
Surviving are two sons, Dale Lawler (Edith), Willie Lawler (Norma); two daughters, Mona Lampton (Mel) and Tina Colby; 9 grandchildren, one step-granddaughter; 23 great-grandchildren, with one on the way; 9 step-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Betty Jo passed away in the early morning hours of October 16, 2026 at the home of her youngest daughter, Tina, at the age of 97 years, 7 months and 25 days.
“Rest in peace Mom”, you will be missed!!
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., just prior to the service. Betty Jo will lie in state Monday from noon to 7:00 p.m., at the funeral home. Burial will be in Englewood Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions to Novus LifeCare, Tebo Baptist Church or Good Hope Cemetery. These donations may be left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.
