Betty "Bucket" Bales

Betty Jean “Bucket” (Pruett) Bales was born in Coffeyville, Kansas on August 29, 1929, to Peary and Mabel Pruett. She grew up in the North Kansas City area and, despite being left-handed, graduated from North Kansas City High School in 1947.  

A short time later, she met James W. “Jim” Bales while working at American Can Company.  Jim and Betty were married on May 14, 1949, at the Antioch Christian Church in Kansas City, Missouri where they both were members. Together they would build their house with their own two hands and raise their family in Gladstone, Missouri, where they were one of the first families to settle.

Betty was an avid gardener, a maker, and a host to many neighborhood youth that loved playing games in the yard and pulling vegetables from the garden. She loved playing bingo, her out to lunch bunch, watching the Royals, and spending time with family.

On June 7, 2024, Betty passed surrounded by family. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, James W. Bales Sr., son, James W. Bales Jr., five brothers, Robert, Peary Jr., Carl, Roy, and Bill Pruett, and her sister Esther Bringe. She is survived by her brother, Kenneth (Joyce) Pruett, daughter Anne (Kim) Bartholow, her son, Daniel (Susan) Bales, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at Terrace Park Funeral Home & Cemetery on Friday, June 14th, visitation beginning at 1:00pm, funeral service at 2:00pm, followed by private family burial. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Platte Woods United Methodist Church - Blankets of Hope or Clay County Meals on Wheels.