BETTE DeWITT BLISS

1925 - 2014

Bette DeWitt Bliss passed away peacefully March 13, 2014 surrounded by her loving family. Bette was born June 1, 1925 on a dairy farm in Chandler, Arizona. Growing up, Bette's favorite place was the library because of her love of reading. She was known to say, "I'm always happy when I'm in a library." Bette was a Dean's List student at the University of Arizona, paying her own way through college by always working. She transferred to the University of New Mexico for its Latin American studies program. She was president of Kappa Alpha Theta at a time when the sorority was housed in former World War ll barracks. After graduating, her fluency in Spanish helped her get hired as a Pan American stewardess. She flew all through South America and developed a life long love of travel. In 1952, she met a Pan American captain, Curtis Bliss, and despite rarely being on the same continent, they fell in love. The newlyweds moved to Kansas City in 1954. Along with raising four daughters. Bette expressed her creativity through all forms of sewing and needle arts. She designed and sewed elaborate costumes for many Sunset Hill productions and Junior League variety shows. She knitted, needlepointed and quilted exquisite heirlooms. In her later years, her favorite activity was with the UMKC Friends of the Library. A faithful volunteer for many years, she enjoyed working with other book lovers and discovering another book to read. She was the first in her family to go to college and that same drive propelled her all her life to learn and explore new things. She taught herself French and became skilled at computer language in the early days of personal computers. She loved the New York Times crossword puzzle, studying bridge and said she could "rewire a lamp in her sleep". She watched William F. Buckley's Firing Line with a dictionary in her lap. Bette is preceded in death by her parents, James and Lola DeWitt and brothers Jack, Irvin and Clinton. She is survived by her husband, Curtis Bliss, her sister Sybil Shores, her daughters Mimi Lachman (husband Charles), Fifi Wiedeman (husband Reeves), Lili Shank (husband Chris), Kitty Bliss (husband Jerry James). She cherished her 11 grandchildren. The family would like to express their deep gratitude to Cynthia Call, her devoted caregiver for the past several years, as well as thank the wonderful staff at Village Shalom for their loving care. Services will be 1:30pm, Saturday, March 15 at St. Agnes Church, 5250 Mission Road, Roeland Park, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the UMKC Friends of the Library. www.friends.library.umkc.edu or Alzheimer's Association of Kansas City, www.alz.org/kansascity/