Betty Louise Newsome was born on Mar. 18, 1932, in Fredrick, OK to Walter and Gladys Newsome. She passed peacefully at her home on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2025 at the age of 93 years. She was orphaned at the age of four and placed in the orphanage in Helena, OK, along with five of her six siblings. Betty Louise Allison was adopted at the age of seven with one brother, David, to I.E. and Violet Allison of McLoud.
She attended New Salem grade school until the 8th grade. She worked in her father’s machine shop, which manufactured farm implement parts. Betty always said her life began at age seven when she met her new parents.
Betty Louise Steward married Ernest W. (Ernie) Steward on Oct. 16, 1948. Together they raised seven children on a farm NW of Shawnee in the Dale area. She was a homemaker and engaged in all aspects of the farming operation, including herding her kids to do their chores.
Betty drove a school bus for Dale Public Schools for 14 years. Betty and Ernie enjoyed Square Dancing and met many new friends. Betty was very involved in Hazel Dell Extension Homemakers Club. She was a great seamstress and made many beautiful quilts and was well known for tasty pies! She was a member of Hazel Dell Baptist Church and attended Immanuel Baptist Church in recent years.
Betty Louise Zuker married Billy J. Zuker and was married for 18 years. Bill and Betty enjoyed traveling and visited most every state. They were avid dancers and traveled to many gatherings to dance. Betty took up golf and spent many days on the golf course.
Betty had many names, but her favorite was Mom. Later, her first grandchild, Deena, named her Granny Ernie and it became her favorite.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Ernest Steward and Bill Zuker; her oldest daughter, Peggy Nabors; and four great-grandchildren, Kassidee Sheppard, Wyatt and Nolan Garrison; and Nathaniel Holt; Also four brothers and one sister.
Those left to cherish her memory are her two daughters, Patsy Darneal & husband Clinton of Dale, and Jeannette Steward of Shawnee; four sons, Mike Steward & wife Gay of McLoud, Loyd Steward & wife Becky of Bethel Acres, Terry Steward & wife Cathy of Bethel Acres, and Tim Steward & wife Vicki of Dale; Betty is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and one brother, Walter Laymon; and other extended family and friends.
The family extends a very sincere thank you to Primrose, Cohesive Hospice and Visiting Angels for the kindness and loving care given to our Mother.
In lieu of flowers, the family has designated that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, which she donated to for many years.
Visitation will be held from 9 am to 8 pm, Thurs., Oct. 2, 2025, and will continue through service time. The family will be present from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, Thur., Oct. 2, 2025 to greet friends and loved ones at Cooper Funeral Home in Tecumseh, OK. Graveside services will be held at 10 am Fri., Oct. 3, 2025, at Resthaven Memorial Park in Shawnee, OK, under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh. To share memories, or to sign the guest book on-line, go to www.cooperfuneral.com.
