Service: noon Friday, Nov. 13, Christ Community Church, 14200 Kenneth Road, Leawood. Graveside: 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, Garber Memorial Estates, 417 Fairgrounds Road, Laurie, Mo. Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson C

LEAWOOD, Kan. —Betty J. Lucas, 70, Leawood, Kan., formerly of Muscatine, and Sunrise Beach, Mo., passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.

 in lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Kansas City Hospice.

She had returned to the Kansas City area in April from her winter home in Sun Lakes, Ariz.

Mrs. Lucas was bornApril 11, 1939, at home in Gentryville, Mo., the daughter of Johnny and Maudie Ferrell Massey. She was the youngest of seven children.

Her early years in the Ozarks were filled with fond memories, including attending school in a one-room schoolhouse and her December baptism in Brush Creek at the age of 12.

In 1953, she moved with her parents to Muscatine, where she lived for 32 years.  She graduated from Muscatine High School in 1957, and married Robert Lucas Aug. 17, 1958.

she had a long and noteworthy business career including a 14-year stint at Bandag Inc., where she was named as Executive of the Year in 1980 by the local Secretaries Association. She was active in Toastmasters and the YWCA for many years.

She and her husband moved to Sunrise Beach, Mo. at the Lake of the Ozarks in 1985, where they enjoyed visits with family and friends, along with a steady stream of wildlife including her favorite — the colorful hummingbirds.

She began her second career while at the lake as a real estate sales agent, then acquired her own office in 1994. She was president of the Lake of the Ozarks Board of Realtors in 1996, and retired in 2002.

She will be remembered for her vitality, dedication, and keen intelligence. She worked tirelessly to make a better life for her family and imparted a sense of honesty, justice and unwavering integrity in her family that will live on as her legacy.

She will be greatly missed by family and friends until the day when all are reunited.

She is survived by her son, Rick and wife, Jeannie of Overland Park, Kan.; son Tim and wife, Shannon of Ankeny; grandchildren Emma and Jaron of Overland Park; a sister, Jewell Hicks of Shelbyville, Mo.; special friend Dan Bridges of Camdenton, Mo.; and many “favorite” nieces, nephews, and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert in 1996; four brothers and a sister.