Betty J. Stewart

Betty Jean "BJ" Stewart died on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at Golden Heights in Garnett, Kansas. She was the younger child of M.E. "Roy" and Lucille Stewart, born on September 29, 1927, in Greeley, Kansas. She was a great-granddaughter of Valentin Gerth, one of the first Greeley settlers. Betty and her family moved to Garnett when she was about 10 years old, and she lived here the remainder of her life. She was a 1945 graduate of Garnett High School, and following graduation attended the Kansas City Conservatory of Music studying piano. She married Charles Arford in 1950. The marriage ended in divorce in 1971. Betty owned and operated a retail liquor store in Garnett for over 30 years. She had many interests, including golf, skiing and world traveling. She became interested in bridge and honed her skills at the table in her retirement. She regularly played duplicate bridge. But her greatest interest was the love of jazz piano. An accomplished pianist, she traveled following high school with U.S.O. shows. After her retirement, she blended the two interests, traveling extensively on ocean-going jazz cruises, often playing piano during the program's intermission. She also took the opportunity to play a gig or two in European hotel lounges as the featured jazz pianist. Betty was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister, Ionna Solander. She is survived by nephew, Terry Solander of Garnett, and niece, Jill Coltrain of Overland Park; by cousins, Sue Crum of Osawatomie and Ronnie Sutton of Overland Park; and by many grand nieces and nephews. Her family and a host of friends will miss Betty's off-beat, but always generous and up-beat, free spirit. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 PM, Monday, January 28, 2013 at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Garnett. Inurnment will follow in the Garnett Cemetery. The family will greet friends following the services at Maloan's Restaurant, 101 W. 4th, Garnett. Memorial gifts to the Anderson County Historical Society, the Garnett Chamber Players (Curtain Fund) or to the charity of the donor's choice are suggested in lieu of flowers.