Elizabeth Marie (Betty) Morava Hemphill

Elizabeth Marie (Betty) Morava Hemphill, age 83, of Ulysses, Kansas died Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses, Kansas. She was born May 31, 1931 in Harrison, Nebraska, the daughter of Alphonse Nicholas and Clara Frances (DeBock) Hourt.

Betty married LeRoy William Morava at Crawford, Nebraska on Septemer 10, 1948. To this union seven children were born; David, Daniel, Kathrine, Dennis, Gina, John, and Rhonda. Betty was baptized as an infant in to the Catholic Church. She attended school in Wyoming, and Nebraska. Betty’s family moved to Ulysses in 1959. She started working at Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in 1964. She spent many years in the obstetrics department and then was Ward Clerk. Betty felt the hospital was a second home and her co-workers her second family. She retired in 2002. Betty was an avid gardener, devout Catholic and enjoyed walking. Betty married Lester Hemphill in 1985 in Denver, Colorado. He passed away in 1993.

She is survived by her sons, David Morava of Dickson, Tennessee, Dennis Morava of Ulysses, Kansas; daughters, Gina Hargrove of White Bluff, Tennessee, Rhonda Morava of Ulysses, Kansas; step-son, Don Calhoun of Gunnison, Colorado; step-daughters, Lois Jobe of Copeland, Kansas, Kathy Schwarzer of Ulysses, Kansas; brother, Joe Hourt; sisters, Kathrine Ross, Margaret Dunn, Arlene Parmely, and Linda Fenster; 15 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lester Hemphill; sons, John and Danny; daughter, Kathrine; two brothers, Henry and Pat, one sister, Marlene Anderson; and three grandchildren.

Vigil service and Rosary will be held at 7:00 PM on Sunday, November 9, 2014 and funeral mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 10, 2014 both at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ulysses, Kansas with Reverend Peter Fernandez officiating. Interment will follow at the Ulysses Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday, November 9, 2014 from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses. Memorial contributions may be given to the Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880.