Betty Yoder

Betty Yoder, age 82 of Fort Collins, Colorado, died February 20, 2011 at the Pathways Hospice Care Center. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm Tuesday, March 1st at First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover, Ft. Collins. Her fulfilled wish was to have her body donated for scientific purposes. Mary Elizabeth Ebersole was born on November 22, 1928, in La Junta, CO to Clarence and Ruth Ebersole. She grew up in La Junta and continued her education at Goshen College in Indiana and Wittenberg College in Ohio, earning her degree in music. She had a great love and talent for playing and teaching the piano and organ and did so throughout her life. In June of 1951 Betty married John Yoder in Goshen, IN and they had two children, Cindy and Karl. They lived in Apple Creek and Orrville, Ohio for 30 years where she was a member of the Orrville Music Club; the AAUW; and the Oak Grove Mennonite Church. Betty provided piano lessons to numerous students in Wayne County and was an accompanist for instrumental students at the College of Wooster. In 1986 Betty and John moved to Fort Collins. Betty played for both the First Presbyterian and First Methodist Churches in Fort Collins; was in the choir for many years; and continued to teach private piano lessons. She enjoyed hiking and traveling; reading and participating in book clubs; welcoming new residents to Fort Collins as a member of the Newcomers Club; and spending time with family and friends. Betty is survived by her husband of 60 years, John; two children, Cynthia Morahan (her husband, Tom) of Arvada and Karl Yoder of Canton, Ohio; brother, Robert Ebersole of Archbold, OH; sister, Judy Amstutz of Wheat Ridge, CO; and five grandchildren; Megan Fisher of Wooster, OH, Grant Yoder of Twenty Nine Palms, CA, Caitlin Morahan of Boulder, CO, Morgan Yoder of Dalton, OH and Maddy Morahan of Arvada. She was preceded in death by one grandchild, Mollie Lynn Morahan. It was her wish that any memorial donations please be made to the Sanctuary Choir at First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover, Ft. Collins, CO 80524.