Poplar Bluff’s first woman mayor has passed away.
Betty Absheer, 85, lost her battle with health problems Saturday, Oct. 30, according to her nephew, Andy Knowles, who shared the information Sunday.
“My Aunt Betty was a strong headed christian, who had proudly been a member First Church of God since she was just a few years old. I have no doubt in my mind that she is rejoicing in heaven this Sunday,” Knowles shared in a Facebook post. “Her life was devoted to not only the Lord, but also public service.”
A public visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov 5, at Willow Ridge Funeral Service with a Celebration of A Life Fully Lived at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov 6, at Willow Ridge Funeral Service, with burial at Memorial Garden to follow.
A full obituary will be published later this week.
This article was published by the Daily American Republic in December 2015.
By DAVID SILVERBERG
Associate Editor
The most familiar face on the Poplar Bluff City Council will not be present following the April 5 city election.
Mayor Betty Absheer, who holds the record for most years as a council member and as mayor, plans to retire in April.
"My plans are not to run again after serving 26 and one-half years on the council," Absheer said. "I will be 80 next year and will go out as mayor. It is time to go."
She was appointed as the Ward 3 council member in September 1989 and elected to the remaining two years of that term in April 1990 -- the first of nine successful elections.
Most elections, she was unopposed or won easily. Her closest win was by only 23 votes when teacher Mark Ellis ran against her in 2007.
Absheer was working in the Poplar Bluff Housing Authority office when Councilman Danny Whiteley, now the police chief, called her in 1989.
Whiteley said there was going to be a vacancy in Ward 3 due to Councilman Ernie Richardson accepting another position.
"I was surprised," Absheer said. "I had never thought about doing anything like that."
Whiteley gave her "a couple of hours" to decide. She obtained approval from her boss and encouragement from her family and friends before submitting her application letter.
Her reason for becoming a council member and persevering for so many years sets an example for everyone.
"I have always been taught to serve, volunteer and help people. It was instilled in my family to give back," Absheer said. "I thought it would be a good challenge. I could learn more about the city and I enjoy meeting people."
C. W. Knuckles, a high school geography teacher, became a council member in the 1990s.
"When I was a sophomore in his class, I never dreamed I would be sitting beside him on the City Council," Absheer said.
Absheer was the first female mayor elected in Poplar Bluff. Council members elected her to one-year terms as mayor in April of 1993, 1996, 2000, 2006 and 2015.
"The men I was serving with wanted to make history in Poplar Bluff in 1993," Absheer said. "Abbie Road was named after me because I was the first lady mayor. Abbie was my nickname in high school."
Abbie Road is located just north of Highway PP between Camp Road and Iron Bridge Road on the west side of Poplar Bluff.
She attended her first council meeting in a building at the northwest corner of Broadway and Cedar streets. Then the council decided to move City Hall to a former hospital building on North Second Street. Now the possibility of building a new City Hall is being explored.
Jim Moss was the city manager when Absheer became a councilwoman. She also has served under four other city managers -- Tom Lawson, Doug Bagby, Heath Kaplan and Mark Massingham.
Absheer described the recent divisiveness on the council as "disappointing." Kaplan served less than one year before being fired by the council.
While the council is dealing with a variety of issues, Absheer is optimistic about the future of the city and expects to see continued growth and improvements.
"I have enjoyed helping to make the community better and being able to meet so many people," she said. "I have given all these years, but I have truly received so much more back. I am a better person from having served them."
As mayor, Absheer said participating in many events for children, youth and adults has been "such a blessing to me." She has presented numerous proclamation to people who have been honored by the city.
"There are a lot of good people that have the best interest of the city at heart," Absheer said.
She has seen a lot of changes and many improvements made in the city, including completion of the Black River Coliseum.
"People enjoy many events in the coliseum," she said.
The four-laning of 50 miles of U.S. 67 north of Poplar Bluff, the Shelby Road and Oak Grove Road projects, the new Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, restoration of the Mansion Mall and Valley Plaza shopping centers and the development of the Eight Points and Cripple Creek commercial areas are other highlights.
"It has been a wonderful experience to be a part of all of this," Absheer said.
She also noted Poplar Bluff has good schools and a good college.
"Kids can get a good education and find good jobs so they can stay here and raise their families," she said.
Absheer hopes Downtown Poplar Bluff can be redeveloped so people "can have an appreciation of what it meant and what it can mean again."
"I will not take anything for the experience of growing up in our Downtown," said Absheer, who recalled "walking uptown" with her best friend to go window shopping, eating at Belknap's Drug Store where her sister, Bonnie, worked 30 years, and walking down the grand staircase at the depot to ride the train to visit relatives in St. Louis.
The father of her best friend, Paralee Diamond, worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad at the depot.
"We liked to watch the many trains, see the passengers and walk up and down the steps," Absheer said. "Paralee and I sang together in the Diamond Quartet for 40 years."
She also is well known for many years of leadership in Altrusa International, including president of the Poplar Bluff Club, governor of District 8 (Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas) and vice president on the International Board. She has visited clubs in all four states and traveled to national and international conventions.
While attending the International Altrusa Convention in New Zealand in 1995, she had her photo taken the first lady mayor of Christchurch.
"It will be my 40th year as an Altrusa member in 2016," she said.
Absheer was born on Oct. 19, 1936, in Old Greenville. Her given name was Mary Elizabeth, but she always been Betty. She was five when her family moved to the East Side of Poplar Bluff in January 1942.
"I have lived in the 300 block of North C Street for more than 70 years and in the same house for 56 years," she said.
Her early education was at the J. Minnie Smith Grade School two blocks from her home, She graduated from Poplar Bluff Junior High and Poplar Bluff High School when "both buildings were Downtown."
She worked three years in the office at Anderson Furniture on Fifth Street, 13.5 years at Metropolitan Insurance at Ninth and Vine streets and 28.5 years in the Poplar Bluff Housing Authority Office. She was retired for six years and then started working part-time for Cummings Real Estate where she has been for 11 years.
Absheer also has been an active member of the First Church of God. The congregation met in "old white frame church on the East Side" before building a larger church. In 1995, a new church was built on Highway 67 South. She was the youth and music director for many years and served on various boards.
When asked about her future plans, Absheer said, "I won't just sit down. I will still be active in Altrusa and my church and I will continue to support the council in moving the city forward."
One trip will be to Oklahoma to visit an Altrusa friend.
"Life has been good and continues to be good. I have been blessed. Everything I have done has been fulfilling," she said with thanksgiving to God.
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