BETTY JO DANIEL

Betty H. Daniel, 79, of Jefferson City, died Monday, Oct. 3, 2005, at St. Marys Health Center. She was born on Feb. 5, 1926, in Jefferson City, the daughter of Francis Joseph (Joe) and Alice Roosevelt (Favier) Haar. Both parents preceded her in death. A 1943 graduate of St. Peter High School, she was awarded a scholarship to Jefferson City Junior College where she received an Associate of Arts degree in 1945. She was elected president of the Upper Level Student Council; president of Delta Gamma Theta social sorority; secretary of Phi Theta Kappa honorary fraternity; and salutatorian of her graduating class. In 1945 she entered the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, Columbia. In her first year there she was nominated for Homecoming Queen and Barnwarmin Queen. On August 9, 1947, she was married at St. Peter Church to Clarence Salty Daniel of Columbia who was a World War II Eighth Air Force veteran and ex-POW. He was also a student at the University of Missouri, Columbia. The couple continued at M.U. until both graduated. Mrs. Daniel received her Bachelor of Journalism in Advertising degree in July, 1948, and her husband graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Wildlife Conservation in February, 1950. When Mr. Daniel was assigned to Jasper County by his employer, the Missouri Department of Conservation, in February, 1950, the Daniels moved to Carthage, Missouri where Mrs. Daniel accepted the first of many positions with the Federal Selective Service System. In 1960 her husband was promoted and transferred to St. Louis County where Mrs. Daniel was employed in local draft boards in St. Louis City, Webster Groves, and Clayton, where she headed the states largest local board with more than 25,000 registrants. In 1967, Mr. Daniel was again promoted and transferred to the MDC office in Jefferson City while Mrs. Daniel was hired by Missouri State headquarters of the Selective Service System. She held a number of positions before her final promotion to Area Administrative Supervisor over all employees in twenty-three counties in central Missouri. When the draft ended in 1973 all local boards were closed. For nearly a year Mrs. Daniel was employed by the Department of Revenue as Supervisor of Marine registration. In 1974 she was able to return to state headquarters to complete minimum age and length of service requirements for retirement. In May, 1976, state headquarters ceased full-time operations and she retired, receiving the Meritorious Service Award, one of many honors received during her employment with the Selective Service System. In June, 1976, Mrs. Daniel was hired by the Missouri Disaster Planning and Operations Agency which later became the State Emergency Management Agency or SEMA. As the offices first female staff member, she later became the agencys first female manager when she was promoted to Administrative and Fiscal Officer. She retired in January, 1984, for health reasons. She was a Girl Scout leader for eight years. Her troop financed a nine-day trip to Washington D.C., and Gettysburg, PA with funds earned from paper and glass recycling. They visited all major points of interest and enjoyed a personal tour of the White House as well as attending the stage play, Jesus Christ, Superstar at the Kennedy Center. Mrs. Daniel was also active in a number of local organizations. She was a charter volunteer for the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service; was elected president of the American Association of University Women from 1977 to 1979; researched and wrote two chapters of the AAUW book, Paws in Missouri, and also served two terms on the state Board of AAUW as By-laws chairman and circulation manager for the State Bulletin. From 1980-1981 she was President of the Jefferson City Zonta Club and in 1984 was President of the Cole County Chapter of the University of Missouri Alumni Association, receiving a Silver Platter for the most outstanding state chapter of the year. In 1985, while the Selected Service System was in its deep stand-by posture, she was asked to serve as a volunteer on the local board and later as chairman of the appeals board for the Western Federal Judiciary District of Missouri, a position she held until her retirement in 1997. Her biography appears in Whos Who of American Women. The Daniels were members of the California Country Club for a number of years. As health permitted, they traveled extensively throughout the United States enjoying several cruises and two trips to Hawaii. They visited many other countries of Europe as well as Australia and New Zealand. There will be no visitation or services. Memorials are suggested to the Arthritis Foundation, 8390 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63124; or to the University of Missouri Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Those wishing to send condolences or tributes to the family may do so at www.dulletrimble.com.