Midwest Blvd. Christian Church

 Members Profile Page

 This page will present one of our members every 2 to 3 weeks

 Updated 05/21/09

 

GETTING TO KNOW OUR MEMBERS

 

Bettye Jo and David Lynn Heitman

 

 

            Bettye Jo was 16 months old when she was adopted by Jim and Josie Palmer, a couple in their 60’s.  Her birth parents, Jack and Emily Hart (AKA Baker) gave her to them.   She has two brothers and one sister she has never met because she has been unable to locate them.  She has a half sister, uncles, aunts, nephews and cousins.  Her name was changed from Thea Maud Hart to Bettye Jo Palmer.  Her Daddy Palmer was known by most everyone in town where he was a cattle, horse, and grain farmer, and politician.  Her mother Palmer was also a very noted person in El Reno.   She rode a horse sidesaddle and staked a claim in the run of ‘89.  Stories and plays have been written about her.  Bettye Jo went through schools in El Reno where she was a member of the Spanish, Pep, and Glee Clubs.  She was a majorette in the Drum and Bugle Corps.  She was a Deputy County Clerk at the Court House. 

 

            Bettye Jo says she met her sweetie (David Lynn) who she thought was handsome and the best catch in town.  He asked permission from her Daddy to marry her.  He popped the question to her and she said yes.  They married and had three great years.  Her life went on and she left El Reno to work for a Local Federal S & L in Oklahoma City.  She then worked 31 years for the FAA and retired in 1989.   During this time she met Bill Hardy, the father of her children, Rick and Deborah Kaye. They had 23 wonderful years.  Most of that time was spent at MBCC.  They later moved to Bethany and attended Church of the Servant where she sang in their choir.  With that choir she sang at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Senate Rotunda and went to England, Scotland, and Wales and sang in several cathedrals while there.

 

In 1994 she says she remarried the “dapper Mr. Heitman” after talking with him a couple of hours.  He convinced her for the second time, with the same story she had heard nearly fifty years earlier. She says she “bought it again” and has never been sorry.  During their marriage they have lost two sons, Max and Rick, but their faith has never faltered. They are as firm in their beliefs as ever, maybe stronger.   She says when they go to meet their Lord and Savior, the first question will probably be “You took our boys so soon, Why?”   She says she and David Lynn love their Lord and our Lord’s Church and she says all of us are their family in Christ.

 

            David Lynn was born in Horton, Kansas to Marie and John Heitman.  He had one older brother who is deceased.  He graduated from El Reno High and attended some college there.   He married Lucille Palmer in 1940 and went into the Navy and later received a medical discharge.  He divorced Lucille and married Bettye Jo Palmer (no relation).  After three years, he divorced Bettye Jo and remarried Lucille, who bore him two boys, Max and John.  Max gave him one grandchild, Jennifer, who teaches in Austin.  After 47 years Lucille passed on.  Nineteen months later he was reintroduced to Betty Jo who he asked to marry again after talking only an hour.  Twenty-four hours later she said yes and they were married again nineteen days later.  Her two children, Rick and Deborah Kay, became his also as well as her three grandsons.  They lost Rick about two years into the marriage.  They have been married 11 years.  For the first four years they often flew East, West, and South. 

 

            His career has been quite varied.  He has worked as a machinist, sold tobacco, sold candy and peanuts, was a sales engineer where he received two patents and was a partner of two other patents.  While working for the AF, he traveled extensively throughout Europe, S. America, North Africa, Scandinavian countries, and Japan.  David Lynn is an active member of many organizations including the India Temple where he rode Harley Davidson motorcycles in Shrine parades.  After retirement he and Bettye Jo bought an RV and traveled for about three years when the doctor advised selling it, which he says was a sad and costly day.  He says they are very grateful for their church family who has been supportive to both of them and they love each and every one of us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                (This is the 33nd monthly feature to meet our members.)

                                                                                       here for last Months