Bettye Flo Giles

Bettye Flo Giles, 91, of Pryor, passed away on Monday, June 2, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born on January 3, 1934, in Del, Colorado, the daughter of Clayborne and Hazel (Shaffle) Teel. When she was 7 years old, her family moved to the White Water community. Bettye graduated from Jay High School and later earned her master’s degree in Library Media and Language Arts from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. On May 22, 1962, she married Edward Giles in Haviland, Kansas. Together, they made a life full of love, hard work, and adventure. In 1979, they moved to the Pryor area from Haviland, Kansas. Bettye was a dedicated educator, teaching in Macksville, Kansas, and later retiring from Locust Grove Public Schools in 1991. After retirement, she remained active in her community, joining the Cole HDU Club and serving on the Mayes County Equalization and Taxation Board for seven years. She and Ed were members of the First Church of God in Pryor and shared a passion for square dancing, traveling across the country and even dancing in London, England. She was among the first riders in the Oklahoma chapter of the Glory Riders ministry team. They raised Charolais cattle and were honored as Mayes County Farm Family of the Year in 2004. Bettye was also involved with the OSU Extension Office and enjoyed quilting, sewing, cheering on all kinds of sports, driving Heather all over the state to barrel race, and spending time with her beloved great-granddaughter Brynlee. A life so full of love, learning, and service will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her.

She is survived by her children, David Giles and wife Monya of Bertram, Texas; Mark Mitch Giles of Wichita, Kansas; and Annette Giles of Columbia, Missouri; grandchildren, Heather Baucom, Bryan Markovich, Brett Markovich, Rachelle Red, Amelia Hanson, Michael Giles, and Mersades Binns Wells, several great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Edward Giles; stepmother; three sisters; four brothers; son, Steven Giles; grandson, Allen Writz; nephews; and her grandparents.