Obituary of Bette Jane Miles Baumer

Bette Jane Killion Miles Baumer, 96, died at 11:15 a.m. Friday, July 11, 2014. Born in Wichita KS on April 1, 1918. She was a great wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker and hat loving fashionista who was admired and loved by all. Her memory is imprinted on the hundreds of people with whom she shared her passion of sewing, cross-stitching and crocheting, the weather, her flowers and the elusive search for hummingbirds. The dust bowl and the Great Depression formed her. She started working at 14, driving a delivery truck for her father’s butcher business and sewing clothes for the women of Enid, OK. Her wisdom, fierce style, and sharp wit, were inspiring to her son, and for her granddaughters well into their 40’s. What a gift! She taught us all to be relevant. She learned to use an iPad at 91, so she could send and receive photos, mostly of her flowers. She often said; “The more you are in style, the more you will be out of style.” Few women could wear a hat like Bette. “If you cry at everything in life that is all you will do. You have to laugh at life too.” She and her son talked daily and always had a good laugh. Bette’s artistic eye was sharp and her needle true. She loved her trips to Japan in the early 60’s with Floyd and there, developed a love of silk fabrics and Japanese art. Many of her original silk evening gowns are still admired by her friends and family. Bette lived an open life, full of love, honesty and giving. She suffered no fools. She lived independently, drove her Lincoln and shopped sales weekly until days before she became ill. Her suffering was brief. Her parents, Thelma Bowers and Dan Killion; a sister, Peg Mayo; husband, Floyd Leonard Miles and son Floyd Leonard Miles Jr., and her second husband, Andrew C. Baumer, all their loses have been borne by her. Bette is survived her son, Thomas Meredith Miles of Philadelphia, PA; daughter-in-law, Mary Johnson of Dallas, TX; granddaughters, Shannan Johnson of Dallas, TX, Dr. John and Mrs. Stephanie Krell of Dallas, TX, their children and Bette’s two great-grandchildren, Alexandria Krell and John Krell, Jr., all will carry her memory and good stories on for others to share. Thank you Bette for the life lessons and being a great example to us and the many people we told about you, whom you never met. A private ceremony for family will be held August 1st, 2014. No flowers please, but donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 709 S. Boston Tulsa, OK 74119 for Sunday flowers in honor of Bette Baumer, Floyd Miles and Floyd Miles Jr.