Betty Alice Dickey (Long), 98 of Springfield returned to the Lord January 25 at the Spring Valley Nursing home. She was born September 2, 1924 in Jackson County, Missouri. Betty was the daughter of Mamie F. and Perl E. Long and grew up in West Plains, MO and then in Springfield.

She was a 1941 graduate of Springfield High School, now Central High School. She received her B.A. from Drury College where she was an active Pi Beta Phi and was introduced to her future husband by a sorority sister. She also studied social work at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She was director of Springfield's Community Planning Council, coordinating social services throughout the city. She especially focused on providing mental health care through service on many task forces both local and statewide.

Betty (with her husband Sam) was a founding member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and a founding member of Twin Oaks Country Club, where she graciously hosted many parties. Her active social life included trips to Europe and Hawaii, regular PT boat reunions, the Drury Women's Auxiliary, many clubs and the hundreds of weekends spent at her beloved cabin on Table Rock Lake. In later years she devoted enormous care first to her brother Forrest and then husband Sam as health crises challenged their later years. Betty then endured with humor, equanimity and tremendous strength her own gradual loss of memory and independence.

Betty was predeceased by her loving husband of 54 years, Samuel S. Dickey, her parents and her brother, Forrest Long. She is survived by her sons Andrew C. Dickey (Virginia Yohe) and Stuart G Dickey-Summer (Laura Summer) and by her grandchildren Elizabeth Yohe Moore, Samuel Dickey, Kelsa Summer Roidt (Chris Summer Roidt), Charles Dickey (Rebecca Oh), Martin Summer and Eleanor Dickey.

The family would like to thank the staff of Visiting Angels and Good Shepherd Hospice for many years of faithful and loving care. Mom loved these caregivers and was loved by them. Even as Betty's memory weakened, her careful listening and cogent questions supported each person she talked to.

She has now begun her next life, with God.

Services will be at the United Methodist Church in Marshfield, MO on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at 2:00 PM, under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. A reception in the church will follow. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Drury University.