Bessie Towles

Bessie Elizabeth (Betty) Towles, 98, passed away Monday, March 2, 2026, at Garden Valley Retirement Village in Garden City Kansas. She was born February 2, 1928, in Garden City Kansas, the daughter of Thomas Leo and Iva Mae (Gann) Long.

A lifetime resident of Garden City, Betty began her education at St. Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Garden City Senior High School. On October 12, 1947, she married Alfred J. Towles in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas.

A beloved wife, mother, and friend, Betty was active in her church and community, volunteering at St. Catherine Hospital as a Gray Lady, participating in numerous school fun nights and room mother activities, and providing many casseroles and desserts for church bereavement dinners. She also clocked many hours in the car taxiing her five daughters to music lessons, dance lessons, music competitions, and school activities.

Betty had many friends and highly enjoyed her bridge clubs, Newman Club, lunch groups, breakfast group, and her very special "coffee gals." She was a member of both St. Mary Catholic Church and St. Dominic Catholic Church.

Survivors include her daughters – Sharyl Kells of Garden City, Carol Gruber of Ulysses, Cindy Waits (David) of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Karen Pontious of Garden City, and Jone Drazic of Omaha, Nebraska; sisters - Nora Brown, Louise Long, and Joan Livingston all of Garden City; brother – Raymond Long of Littleton, Colorado; grandchildren – Chris Kells, Melissa Morgan, Jay Kells, Jennifer Kollman, Heather Strandmark, Brooke Dunlavy, Alison Delich, Mitch Pontious, Tony Towles, Julie Drazic, Mike Drazic, John Drazic, Libby Elsasser, Matthew Drazic, Abby Chambers, and Luke Drazic; 26 great-grandchildren and 7 great great – grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a sister- Loretta Staley, and three brothers – Leo Edgar Long, Charles William Long, and Robert Lee Long.

Visitation will take place Thursday March 5, 2026 from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm at Garnand Funeral Home of Garden City. A Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 pm Thursday March 5, 2026 at St. Dominic Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am Friday March 6, 2026 also at St. Dominic Catholic Church with Rev. Ben Green and Rev. Jacob Schneider as concelebrants burial to follow in Valley View Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions to the St. Dominic Education Endowment Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home.

Garnand Funeral Home 412 N. 7th Street, Garden City, Ks 67846 620-276-3219