Betty Jean (Dawley) Agan Harrelson

Betty Jean (Dawley) Agan Harrelson, 84, of Newton died on Monday, December 17, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 22, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.  Following the service the family will greet friends with a lunch at the funeral home. Memorials to Paws in a Blanket or Jasper County Animal Rescue League may be left at the funeral home.  

Betty, the daughter of John and Edna (Hasley) Dawley, was born on September 25, 1934 in Montezuma.  She attended school in Searsboro and graduated from New Sharon schools.  Betty attended Central College and later graduated from Drake University with a degree in Education.  Betty moved to Newton in the 1950’s and began her 37-year teaching career at the Newton Community School District.  She taught 6th grade at both Washington and Aurora Heights. Betty was united in marriage with George A. Harrelson on September 29, 1977 in Newton.  In Betty’s words “there was something magic in our life together.” Betty was a member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary. She enjoyed bowling, traveling, and spending winters in Texas.  

Betty is survived by her children, Jeffrey (Lisa) Agan of New Sharon and Sue Van Gorp of Merriam, Kansas; grandchildren, Joseph (Alexia) Agan of Grinnell, Abbie Agan of North Liberty, Mike (Olivia) Miller of Pleasantville, Michael Harrelson of Des Moines, Dustin Van Grop of Boulder, Colorado, and Dylan Van Gorp of Denver, Colorado; her great-grandchildren, Sebastian and Kemper Atteberry, Hadley Agan, and Brynn, Colton, and Claire Miller; and a brother, Dan (Diana) Dawley of Montezuma.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 39 years, George A. Harrelson in 2016; son, Scott Agan; step-son, George “Bud” Harrelson, Jr; a sister, Beverly Dawley Pargeon; and a brother, Jerry Dawley.

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