BETTY J. BISHOP, 86, former Atlanta, Kansas resident, passed away Sunday afternoon, November 27, 2011 at the Dexter Care Center.

Born on November 30, 1924 in Ponca City, Oklahoma, she was the daughter of Gilbert and Winnie (Meek) Myrick. She attended grade school at Zion, a country school in Atlanta. Betty attended Atlanta High School and also Planeview High School in Wichita, graduating in 1942. She attended Wichita State University and graduated with a BAE in Art Education on May 19, 1974.

Betty was united in marriage to Henry George Strauhs on January 21. 1946 in El Dorado, Kansas. The couple later divorced. She was employed at USD 457 as an art instructor, teaching Junior and Senior High School students, retiring in 1986.

She was united in marriage on December 1, 1976 to Homer Kenneth "Chief Redbird" Bishop in Poteau, Oklahoma. The couple made their home in Garden City, Kansas and later Atlanta. Mr. Bishop preceded her in death on January 15, 2002.

Betty was a talented artist and sold many award winning oil paintings and handwoven wall hangings. She loved to travel, camp, study geneaology, journal and scrapbook.

She attended the Atlanta Methodist Church as a child and the Christian Church as a young adult. She was baptized on November 16, 1980 at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Garden City, Kansas. She was currently a member of the Cornerstone Church in Atlanta. Betty was a member of the Rebekah Lodge 610 in Atlanta and the Kappi Pi Honaree Society (art) at Wichita State University.

Her family includes:
Her son: Lonnie Strauhs and wife Reba of Wichita, KS;
Her sisters: Bonnie Eaton of Atlanta, KS; and Winnie Sturm of Wichita, KS;
Her grandson: Phillip Strauhs and wife Ashley of Clearwater, KS;
Her granddaughter: DeLonna Strauhs of Wichita, KS;
Her great-granddaughters: Jessie Strauhs, Kayle Strauhs and Shelby Strauhs;
Her nephews: Tracy and Mike Sturm of Wichita, KS; and Carl Strauhs of Tulsa, OK;
Her niece: Angela Inchekel of Salt Lake City, UT;
Her stepchildren: Kenneth Bishop, Jr.,of Oklahoma City, OK; Judith Smalley of Lawrence, KS; Margo Dennett of Enid, OK; Lori Zoglmann of Conway Springs, KS: and Tammy Rice of Wichita, KS;
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her stepdaughter, Kate Bing, and her sister, Freda Strauhs.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, December 1, 2011 at Miles Funeral Service in Winfield. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, November 30, 2011.

Memorials have been established in Betty's name for Cornerstone Church and Prairie View Methodist Church in Atlanta. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.