09/11/2025
BETTY LUCILLE CAVENDER (nee Lockwood) - OBITUARY
Betty Lockwood Cavender of Pacific, MO passed away on September 8. 2025 at Clarendale St Peters.
She was born on September 22, 1934 on the family farm in Osage County MO, the first daughter of Seigle Leroy Lockwood and Ruth (Evans) Lockwood.
She was married on April 1, 1955 in Linn, MO to Nelson (Tod) Cavender.
Betty attended Pointers Creek Elementary School for one year and finished her elementary education in Linn Public Schools, graduating from Linn High in 1952. Following high school graduation, she attended Central Missouri State College, Warrensburg, MO for three years, graduating in 1955 with a BS in Business Administration. She later received a MS in Education from the same university. She taught business education for one year at Linn High School before moving to Pacific, MO. She taught fourth grade in Pacific Elementary for two years, and business education at Pacific High School for six years. In 1968, she moved to the Rockwood School District, where she taught business education at Lafayette High School for 21 years, retiring in 1989 after teaching for 30 years.
During retirement, Betty worked part time as secretary at Pacific United Methodist Church for over 30 years; she was also active in the church, playing the church organ for 25 years, participating in the Joy Ringers hand bell choir for over 10 years, serving on various committees and was an officer in the UMW. Betty also chaired the Mission Committee for over 10 years, participating in and leading mission trips to Mexico, Rockford, IL; Henderson Settlement in Kentucky, and UMCOR/Sager Brown in Louisiana. She and her husband, Nelson, attended the Festival of Sharing mission program yearly for over 20 years.
Betty enjoyed making handcrafted items for the annual church bazaar, as well as knitting items for newborns at a local hospital and creating prayer shawls. She also enjoyed reading and travel; she and her husband had traveled to all 50 states, as well as to Europe and the British Isles. She loved spending time with her family, and her children and grandchildren were her joys in life.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Charlotte (Elmer) Litton, and her brother-in-law Cary Thompson.
Survivors include three daughters: Janet Cavender of St. Peters, MO; Judy (Ed) Lentz of Findlay, Ohio; and Nancy Cavender of Owensboro, Kentucky. She also has four grandchildren: Sam (Jennifer) Lentz (Charlotte NC); Tyler (Lori) Lentz (Oregon, OH); Emily Lentz (Alexandria, VA); and Christopher (Brooklyn) Knight (Bloomington, IN). Betty also leaves six great grandchildren (Ethan, Ezra, Lucy, Marvin, Henry, and Charlotte Lentz). She also leaves one sister, Linda Thompson of Linn, MO as well as many extended family members, and numerous friends.
A memorial service will be held at Pacific United Methodist Church, Pacific, MO at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the start of the service. Interment and a graveside service will be held at the Linn Memorial Park Cemetery, Linn, MO on Saturday, September 20 at 3:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pacific United Methodist Church, 1516 West St. Louis St., Pacific, MO 63069.
