Betty Sarah Marquez.... Age 79

Memorials are to Osawatomie Senior Services  - Osawatomie Food Pantry

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Betty Sarah Tomson Marquez, 79 of Hutchinson KS passed peacefully Monday May 18 ^th in her son’s home in Osawatomie, KS.  Betty was born November 28, 1940 in Syracuse, KS the sixth of seven children of Cliff and Mary Ent Tomson.  She graduated from Syracuse High School in 1958. On December 13, 1958, she married Herman Marquez at the St. Raphael Catholic Church in Syracuse, KS.  They became the parents of two sons, Mark Anthony and Mathew Jon.   They remained in the Syracuse area until 1964 before moving to Hutchinson, KS where they remained until moving to Osawatomie to live with their son Mark.

Betty was a boy-mom way before social media made it a trendy hashtag or slogan on a t-shirt. In contemporary hindsight, she personified the empowered late 1960s & 70s working woman who did all she could to keep the family on track while maintaining a career. However, in those days, she was a mother who delivered in any way possible for her family to flourish. With two sons, ten years apart in age, it wasn't always easy for her. Between balancing the roles of being a supportive parent with her oldest, Mark, and trying to 'wrangle' her youngest, Mathew, the only 'easy day' was the previous one. So, it's by no small miracle she delivered on all counts for her sons— every single day . Betty didn't have the benefits of daily podcasts or popular talk show hosts to coach her through the challenges or strategies of being a 'good mom'— she just figured it out. She imparted upon her boys' values like loyalty, perseverance, justice, accountability, and courage. It wasn't always eloquent, and wasn't always easy to accept for her sons; nevertheless, she pushed forward to the visions for who she hoped they'd become as men, not who they were in the moment.

When she wasn't remodeling the house or experimenting with bacon-wrapped foods (not her strength), she found her creative solace in gardening. Passerbys often discussed Betty's expanding flower gardens, but rarely was such beauty replicated in the neighborhood. People would ask her what her 'secret' was to all the bursting colors and well-planned flower boxes, but the truth was there was no secret – other than, like raising her sons, she brought an unwillingness to quit short of her vision for what it could be in full bloom.

In the retirement years of her life, Betty discovered her other superpower: being a Grandma. With four granddaughters: Kindyl Mirae, Chyna Jade, Endya Rose, and Ahmya Jean; and two great-grandsons, Weston Gage, and Lorenzo Herman – she got to revel in the joys of spoiling, loving, and guiding her granddaughters at different points in their journey. Betty has forever embedded  character within each of them.  With the move to Osawatomie came the blending of Mark and Patty’s family.  Here she was able to spend time with her bonus family of Amy, Aidan, Charlea, Lindsay, Collin, Bryer, and Rylea.  She always had a smile and a hug when any of the “little kids” would drop in to visit.

Betty's life reflects the testimony of a woman, wife, mother, and grandmother whose heart bears the stripes of a life lived fully. It wasn't perfect, but it was her masterclass nonetheless.

Betty  was preceded in death by her husband Herman Marquez, her parents Cliff and Mary Tomson, her sister Peggy Tomson and brother Martin Tomson. She is survived by her sons Mark and his wife Patty and Mathew and his wife Suzi, four granddaughters Kindyl and Ian Elliott, Chyna Marquez, Endya Marquez, and Ahmya Marquez; two great-grandsons, Gage Marquez and Lorenzo Herman Rameriz, bonus family of Amy Johnson and her family of JR, Aidan, Charlea, Harper, and Ava, and Lindsay Russell and her family of Ryan, Collin, Bryer, and Rylea; three brothers, Mort Tomson and his wife Pat, Moran Tomson and his wife Jeannie, Mason Tomson and his wife Harriett, sister-in-law Lola Tomson, sister Susie Wilson; numerous nieces, nephews, family members, and friends.

A Celebration of Life and family burial will be held in Hutchinson, KS at a later date.