KWOC News has learned that Betty Absheer, Poplar Bluff’s first female mayor passed away Saturday evening. She was 85.
She began her political career in Poplar Bluff and was appointed as the Ward 3 council member in September 1989 and elected to the remaining two years of that term in April 1990. This term was the first of nine successful elections. Most elections, she was unopposed or won easily. Her closest win was by only 23 votes when then teacher Mark Ellis ran against her in 2007.
Absheer at the time was working in the Poplar Bluff Housing Authority Office when Councilman Danny Whiteley, now the current Police Chief, called her in 1989 and informed her there was going to be a vacancy in Ward 3 due to another councilman accepting another position. After taking a couple of hours to decide, she obtained approval from her boss and encouragement from her family and friends before submitting her application letter.
Her reason for becoming a council member and persevering for so many years sets an example for everyone.
Council members elected Absheer her to one-year terms as mayor in April of 1993, 1996, 2000, 2006 and 2015. She attended her first council meeting in a building at the northwest corner of Broadway and Cedar Streets. Jim Moss was the city manager when Absheer became a councilwoman. She also has served under four other city managers Tom Lawson, Doug Bagby, Heath Kaplan and Mark Massingham.
As mayor, Absheer participating in many events for children, youth and adults. She has presented numerous proclamations to people who have been honored by the city.
Absheer was born on October 19, 1936, in Old Greenville. Her given name was Mary Elizabeth, but she always been Betty. She was five when her family moved to the East Side of Poplar Bluff in January 1942. Her early education was at the J. Minnie Smith Grade School two blocks from her home, She graduated from Poplar Bluff Junior High and Poplar Bluff High School when both buildings were in Downtown. She worked three years in the office at Anderson Furniture on Fifth Street, 13 years at Metropolitan Insurance at Ninth and Vine streets and 28 years in the Poplar Bluff Housing Authority Office.
