Betty Jo Bellis

Betty J. (Douglas) Bellis (A.K.A. Betty Bellis - Mankin) passed away peacefully at her residence in Norman on Saturday, November 1, 2025. She was born May 23, 1932 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Stephen Glenn Douglas and Edith (Harned) Douglas. Betty graduated from Stillwater High School in 1950 and Oklahoma A&M College in 1954 with a BA in Humanities. She embraced the opportunity to learn new topics while also developing strong typing and shorthand skills. She was a member of Chi Omega fraternity where she made lifelong friends. 

As a young girl, Betty was influenced by the magazine, Calling All Girls and especially embraced the motto, “Dare to be Different”. Growing up, Betty proudly worked in the family grocery store where she challenged herself with memorizing prices and loved helping customers. Her capacity to memorize served her well throughout life, as did her joy of working and saving money for special purposes.  

Betty married William (Bill) H. Bellis of Cushing in 1954, and their first of two children, Douglas, was born the following year in Germany. Betty embraced the opportunity to live in Europe.  The family then moved to Norman in 1956, where Betty would reside the remainder of her life. While raising their two young children, Betty began an in-home daycare. She also typed theses and dissertations for OU students in the evenings. She held various secretarial jobs, before taking a position at the Oklahoma Geological Survey where she worked as a masterful typist for 34 years.

She was active in many women’s groups, especially the Norman Business & Professional Women’s Group, serving as president several terms and was awarded Woman of the Year in 1982. Later in life, Betty was honored to join the sisterhood of PEO. She was a proud alumna of Oklahoma State University and was grateful to have the Betty Douglas Bellis Endowed Scholarship established in her name by a dear friend. Betty enjoyed the camaraderie of the Cleveland - McClain OSU Alumni association for many years.  Betty was a fixture at the OKC Philharmonic and the Lyric Theatre, and enjoyed many a musical and theatrical program at the University of Oklahoma. Betty loved music and played KUCO Classical Music Radio station 24/7. She did not watch television, but was an avid supporter of local newspapers, always saving the comics to read last, ending the day on a happy note.

She is survived by a daughter, Karen Bellis Powers (Mark) of Cedar Park, TX; Daughter-in-law Tina Erickson Bellis of Norman; Granddaughters Jenna Bellis of Phoenix, Arizona and Carmen Bellis of Austin, Texas; Siblings Judy Douglas Tomlinson of Duncan, OK and Ben Cooksey Douglas of Stillwater, OK, as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and wonderful friends. 

She was preceded in death by her second husband, Charles J. Mankin, her beloved son, Douglas K. Bellis, her parents Stephen Glenn Douglas and Edith Harned Douglas, and her older sister, Doris Ann Douglas Hanks, as well as many dogs and cats.  

It’s true, Betty will be remembered for many things, but the one attribute to rise above them all was her positive outlook on life. She found joy in the simplest of things and carried a pocket full of smiles to share with others. Betty’s life was enhanced by many, and there are several who undoubtedly extended her happy time on this earth through their extraordinary care and assistance. Special appreciation goes to Denise Clear, Charley Stevens, Jeani Tomlinson, and Wendy Isom. The family is also grateful for Dr. Thomas Merrill and nurse Pam, Hearts at Home Companion Care, and many staff members at Sooner Station Assisted Living. Betty and her late husband were regulars at Legend’s Restaurant, where the service provided to them was greatly appreciated. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Meals on Wheels, Norman Animal Welfare, or your charity of choice.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 -4:00 PM, Saturday, January 17, 2026 (Program at 2:30pm) at the Countdown Event Center, 3201 Deskin Dr., Norman, OK 73069. Ashes to be interred at Fairlawn Cemetery, Stillwater, OK at a later date. Services are entrusted to Tribute Memorial Care of Norman.