Bettie Lee Mckeehan

Bettie Lee McKeehan, 80, passed away March 19, 2008, in Fort Collins. Bettie Lee was born April 1, 1927, in Sedalia, Mo., to Lloyd Smith and Ruth Busick Smith. She married Charles Tyer in 1945, until his passing in 1960. She then married Eugene "Big Mac" McKeehan in 1961. Bettie and Mac moved to Fort Collins in 1974. Bettie grew up cooking. She was on a step stool when she was 3 years old making pie crusts and biscuits. She continued cooking her whole life. She owned her own restaurant in Kansas City from 1951-1957. She was famous for her large St. Patrick's Day meals, chicken and dumplings and her homemade pies. Bettie and Mac owned a laundry and liquor store from 1961 to 1965, and Bettie was president of the La Sertoma club during those years. Bettie was an avid crossword puzzler. She was an incredible hostess, bell collector, friend to so many, and a great mom. Bettie is survived by her daughter, Kellie McKeehan of Grand Junction; her niece, Betty Louise Leach and family of Kansas; her step-daughter, Junene King and family of Tennessee; and her niece, Sandy Day and family of Denver; her Cloverleaf family, her Fort Collins Health Care family; as well as many more family and friends who knew and loved her. A graveside memorial will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday at Resthaven Cemetery.