Betty Anne Norfleet, 74, of North Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Saturday evening, April 19, 2025, after facing cancer with remarkable strength, grit, and her unmistakable sense of humor. Born in Weed, California, on  August 14, 1950, to Harold Raymond Norfleet, Sr. and Frances Lee Salmons Norfleet, Betty spent her early years in Tennant, California and Grandview, Missouri before graduating from Windsor High School in 1968. She had a gift for connection and made friends wherever she went from classrooms to hospital rooms to the grocery store aisle. She never knew a stranger and brought warmth, humor, and heart to every conversation. She married Jerry Ferguson in 1969, and together they had two daughters, Jami Anne and Emily Susan. In 1993, she married Alan Buck, who preceded her in death in 2019. Betty had a heart that couldn’t sit still. She started as a beautician, became a medical assistant, and eventually earned her Registered Nursing degree in December 1985, pouring her care and compassion into every child and family she served. Her years as a nurse on the pediatric oncology floor at Children’s Mercy Hospital were filled with dedication, resilience, and deep compassion. After retiring in August 2020, she returned to work at the North Kansas City School District as a school nurse, continuing to nurture children with the same fierce love and tireless spirit until her cancer diagnosis made her retirement final. A woman of deep and unwavering faith, Betty was a proud member of Northland Church KC and lived her life as a reflection of God’s love. Her relationship with Jesus was the foundation of her strength, joy, and compassion. She knit blankets for babies, stitched thoughtful gifts for friends, loved cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs with the “tailgate group” and loved playing bridge with her group of ladies always laughing, storytelling, and occasionally getting competitive. She found comfort in prayer, purpose in serving others, and lived out her faith in the way she showed up for others, again and again.

She is survived by her daughters, Jami Anne Woodbury and Emily Ferguson Bold; her son-in-law, Stuart Woodbury; her three cherished granddaughters Olivia Anne Woodbury, Grace Isabella Woodbury, and Ava Ferguson Bold who were the light of her life; her brother David and his wife Marilyn; her brother Robert Norfleet; her brother-in-law Kelly Means; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews who knew her lovingly as “GAB” (Greatest Aunt Betty). She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Patricia Luella Norfleet Means; and her brother, Harold R. Norfleet, Jr.

A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on Tuesday, May 13th at Northland Church, 7101 NW Waukomis Drive, Kansas City, MO 64151. Visitation will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with a service to follow at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be made to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Betty devoted her life to caring for children—with her hands, her heart, and her whole being. Honoring that love by supporting children through the work of Children’s Mercy is a beautiful way to keep her spirit alive.