Betty Jean Graham Foley was born July 29, 1931, to John William Graham and Wilma
Iona Ackley of Union County, Iowa. Betty joined in holy matrimony with Jack Dwane
Foley on July 26, 1949, in Texhoma, Oklahoma at the age of eighteen. One son, Larry
Dwane Foley was born from this union.
She completed the ninth grade at Arispe Elementary School in Afton, IA and went on to
receive her GED. She worked at various jobs until her retirement in 1996. In school,
She loved to draw pictures of birds. She had a lifelong love for Cardinals and
Hummingbirds. She had a hummingbird feeder hanging outside her window and would
sit for hours watching them as they would sip the "sugar water" that her friend John
made sure was always full.
Betty loved her church family and was a member of Faith Tabernacle Church of God in
Christ for over 26 years under the leadership of Bishop MD Eppright. She was fondly
referred to as "Mother" and highly revered as the Church Mother and Prayer Warrior.
For many years, Betty also faithfully served in the preparation of Communion,
preparing the table and administering the Holy Sacrament, and was always faithful in
attending Weekly Bible Study. No job was too small.
She served in the kitchen, cleaned every area of the Church, and supported church
sponsored programs and community events. She loved caring for the plants and
flowers.
Mother Foley will be remembered for her patience, kindness, willingness to listen,
gentle guidance, evenness of temperament, calm and soothing demeanor and
generosity. Her presence will be deeply missed.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, John William Graham and Wilma Iona
Ackley; husband, Jack Dwane Foley; son, Larry Dwayne Foley; and sisters, Zelda Foley
and Helen Schofield.
She will be laid to rest beside her son, Larry Dwayne Foley, at Greenlawn Cemetery in
Afton.