Marion Denise (Chisholm) Bettis

Marion Denise (Chisholm) Bettis departed this life on September 20, 2015 to be with the Lord. Denise was born October 14, 1957 to Robert D. and Marion (Miles) Chisholm, whose marriage produced four children, of whom Denise was the second born daughter. She was preceded in death by her father in 1998. Denise married Thomas L. Bettis in 1974 and is survived by a son, Thomas Shaun Bettis as well as a grandson, Anthony Palacio-Bettis, both of Shawnee, OK. Other survivors in the Shawnee/OKC/Anadarko areas include: her mother, Marion Miles: aunt, Roberta Miles; sisters, R.M. Garrison and Melissa Williams; brother, Robert Chisholm; and numerous relatives; special friends, Tracy and Keith Gilkey; in addition to her faithful companion, Hush Puppy, of the home. Denise worked for several local, non-profit tribal organizations in teaching, supervisory and directorial capacities from 1975 to 2002 despite paraplegia in 1994. She was instrumental in setting up three (Native American) Head Start Programs in the Shawnee, Norman and Cushing areas. She left tribal employment in 2002 to complete the college degree she’d begun to pursue in her mid-twenties at O.U. She attended O.B.U. and St. Gregory’s which culminated with a Bachelor’s Degree, Cum Laude, in Social Science in Spring 2009 from St. Gregory’s. Denise was a Delaware Nation Tribal Member, enjoyed family friends, movies, book collecting for her personal library, Facebook, and Proverbs 3:5-6. Other interests included animal rights and ADA compliance. She made many good friends during her lifetime and was the heart and soul of our family as well as a gift to our lives. Services will be 2:00 P.M. Monday, September 28, 2015 at Walker Funeral Service Chapel. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Walker Funeral Service.