Betty Lee (Mallette) Sooter

October 11, 1924 - October 30, 2016

Betty Lee (Mallette) Sooter of Crocker, 92, retired school teacher and Walmart greeter, passed away the evening of Sunday, October 30, 2016 at Life Care Center in Waynesville, Missouri. Betty was the daughter of Dr. Cyrus Mallette and Monta York Mallette and was born October 11, 1924. She married Harold Gene Sooter on February 28, 1948, at Eldon. To this union were born four sons, Michael Gene, David Lynn, Dennis Paul and John Mark Howard, and two daughters, Julie Ann and Melinda Monta. She supported her husband in ministry work in New Mexico, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Missouri. After her husband retired from ministry they attended Westside Baptist Church of Waynesville, where she played the organ and piano for many years, helped in Kindergarten Sunday School, and was a faithful member of a Sunday School class. In her later years, she would be remembered as the grandmotherly greeter at Walmart who welcomed families and single military members to the surrounding communities. Survivors include Dennis Paul Sooter and wife Sharon of Maryville, TN; two daughters, Julie Ann Longenecker and husband Mark of Waynesville, MO, and Melinda Monta Clouse and husband Kenneth of Falls Church, VA; one sister-in-law Geraldean Thornsberry of Crocker, MO; six grandchildren, Mistee Lynn (Sooter) Cutshaw and husband Wayne Cutshaw of Bryson City, NC, Jonathan Sooter of Maryville, TN, Clayton and Autumn Clouse of Falls Church, VA, and Rebecca and Hannah Ruth Longenecker of Nixa, MO; two great-grandchildren, Jacob “Jake” and Sarah Cutshaw of Bryson City, NC and other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Joe Dean Thornsberry, and three sons, Michael Gene Sooter, David Lynn and John Mark Howard. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Betty Lee Sooter to the Crocker Senior Center of Crocker, MO and may be left at the funeral home.