Melissia Hillery Bettisworth, 102, of Macomb, Illinois passed away at 5:19 p.m. Monday, February 27, 2012 at the Elms Nursing Home in Macomb.She was born on November 11, 1909 on a farm east of Cambridge, Illinois to Fred Leroy and Lydia Bowling Hillery. She married George Earl (Pete) Bettisworth on November 8, 1930 in Rushville. He passed away on December 6, 1970.
Surviving are her daughter, Bettye Bettisworth Swanson; son-in-law, Wendell Swanson; grandchildren, Laura Swanson Leezer of Macomb and Kenneth Paul (Cheryl) Swanson of Western Springs, Illinois; great-grandchildren, Alexandra and Luke Leezer and Jon and Abby Swanson; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Melissia was preceded in death by her husband; one daughter Marilyn Joyce Bettisworth in 1941; parents; two sisters, Viletta Hillery and Myrtle Hillery Dowell; brothers, Leigh Edward and Fred Lester Hillery and brother-in-law, Leslie Dowell.
Melissia Graduated from Western Academy and Western Illinois State Teacher's College in 1929. Prior to her marriage, she taught at West Point High School, West Point, Illinois. Melissia was employed at the Singer Sewing Centers in Quincy, Freeport and Macomb and the Jones Sewing Center in Macomb. She was also employed by Montgomery Ward Company in Freeport, Quincy and Macomb.
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren held a special place in her heart and life. Having them near her or going places with them was the highlight of her day. She loved making things for them; teaching them to draw or paint, reading books or just spending time together.
Gardening, sewing, needlepoint and quilting were her favorite activities. She and her sister, Viletta, made several quilts for children's homes. Melissia began her artistic endeavors in high school and college. Over the years she shared her paintings, charcoal sketches and pen and ink drawings with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends. She continued to do this after moving to The Elms in 2003 drawing the seasonal pictures for the Menu Boards and The Elms Cookbook cover and section pages. Most of her life she made her own Christmas cards and Christmas stationery.
Melissia was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Macomb. She was active in the Women's Guild and taught in the Kindergarten Sunday School Department for many years. She was also a member of and active in the DAR, New England Women and Quincy Order of Eastern Star Lodge #109 for over 50 years.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 2, 2012 at Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home in Macomb with Reverend Dr. Howard White officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home. She will be buried beside her husband and daughter in the West Point Cemetery in West Point, Illinois.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either The Elms, McDonough District Hospital Hospice Program, St. Paul's School or charity of the donor's choice.
Surviving are her daughter, Bettye Bettisworth Swanson; son-in-law, Wendell Swanson; grandchildren, Laura Swanson Leezer of Macomb and Kenneth Paul (Cheryl) Swanson of Western Springs, Illinois; great-grandchildren, Alexandra and Luke Leezer and Jon and Abby Swanson; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Melissia was preceded in death by her husband; one daughter Marilyn Joyce Bettisworth in 1941; parents; two sisters, Viletta Hillery and Myrtle Hillery Dowell; brothers, Leigh Edward and Fred Lester Hillery and brother-in-law, Leslie Dowell.
Melissia Graduated from Western Academy and Western Illinois State Teacher's College in 1929. Prior to her marriage, she taught at West Point High School, West Point, Illinois. Melissia was employed at the Singer Sewing Centers in Quincy, Freeport and Macomb and the Jones Sewing Center in Macomb. She was also employed by Montgomery Ward Company in Freeport, Quincy and Macomb.
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren held a special place in her heart and life. Having them near her or going places with them was the highlight of her day. She loved making things for them; teaching them to draw or paint, reading books or just spending time together.
Gardening, sewing, needlepoint and quilting were her favorite activities. She and her sister, Viletta, made several quilts for children's homes. Melissia began her artistic endeavors in high school and college. Over the years she shared her paintings, charcoal sketches and pen and ink drawings with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends. She continued to do this after moving to The Elms in 2003 drawing the seasonal pictures for the Menu Boards and The Elms Cookbook cover and section pages. Most of her life she made her own Christmas cards and Christmas stationery.
Melissia was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Macomb. She was active in the Women's Guild and taught in the Kindergarten Sunday School Department for many years. She was also a member of and active in the DAR, New England Women and Quincy Order of Eastern Star Lodge #109 for over 50 years.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 2, 2012 at Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home in Macomb with Reverend Dr. Howard White officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home. She will be buried beside her husband and daughter in the West Point Cemetery in West Point, Illinois.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either The Elms, McDonough District Hospital Hospice Program, St. Paul's School or charity of the donor's choice.
Melissia Hillery Bettisworth, 102, of Macomb, Illinois passed away at 5:19 p.m. Monday, February 27, 2012 at the Elms Nursing Home in Macomb.She was born on November 11, 1909 on a farm east of Cambridge, Illinois to Fred Leroy and Lydia Bowling Hillery. She married George Earl (Pete) Bettisworth on November 8, 1930 in Rushville. He passed away on December 6, 1970.
Surviving are her daughter, Bettye Bettisworth Swanson; son-in-law, Wendell Swanson; grandchildren, Laura Swanson Leezer of Macomb and Kenneth Paul (Cheryl) Swanson of Western Springs, Illinois; great-grandchildren, Alexandra and Luke Leezer and Jon and Abby Swanson; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Melissia was preceded in death by her husband; one daughter Marilyn Joyce Bettisworth in 1941; parents; two sisters, Viletta Hillery and Myrtle Hillery Dowell; brothers, Leigh Edward and Fred Lester Hillery and brother-in-law, Leslie Dowell.
Melissia Graduated from Western Academy and Western Illinois State Teacher's College in 1929. Prior to her marriage, she taught at West Point High School, West Point, Illinois. Melissia was employed at the Singer Sewing Centers in Quincy, Freeport and Macomb and the Jones Sewing Center in Macomb. She was also employed by Montgomery Ward Company in Freeport, Quincy and Macomb.
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren held a special place in her heart and life. Having them near her or going places with them was the highlight of her day. She loved making things for them; teaching them to draw or paint, reading books or just spending time together.
Gardening, sewing, needlepoint and quilting were her favorite activities. She and her sister, Viletta, made several quilts for children's homes. Melissia began her artistic endeavors in high school and college. Over the years she shared her paintings, charcoal sketches and pen and ink drawings with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends. She continued to do this after moving to The Elms in 2003 drawing the seasonal pictures for the Menu Boards and The Elms Cookbook cover and section pages. Most of her life she made her own Christmas cards and Christmas stationery.
Melissia was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Macomb. She was active in the Women's Guild and taught in the Kindergarten Sunday School Department for many years. She was also a member of and active in the DAR, New England Women and Quincy Order of Eastern Star Lodge #109 for over 50 years.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 2, 2012 at Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home in Macomb with Reverend Dr. Howard White officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home. She will be buried beside her husband and daughter in the West Point Cemetery in West Point, Illinois.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either The Elms, McDonough District Hospital Hospice Program, St. Paul's School or charity of the donor's choice.
Surviving are her daughter, Bettye Bettisworth Swanson; son-in-law, Wendell Swanson; grandchildren, Laura Swanson Leezer of Macomb and Kenneth Paul (Cheryl) Swanson of Western Springs, Illinois; great-grandchildren, Alexandra and Luke Leezer and Jon and Abby Swanson; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Melissia was preceded in death by her husband; one daughter Marilyn Joyce Bettisworth in 1941; parents; two sisters, Viletta Hillery and Myrtle Hillery Dowell; brothers, Leigh Edward and Fred Lester Hillery and brother-in-law, Leslie Dowell.
Melissia Graduated from Western Academy and Western Illinois State Teacher's College in 1929. Prior to her marriage, she taught at West Point High School, West Point, Illinois. Melissia was employed at the Singer Sewing Centers in Quincy, Freeport and Macomb and the Jones Sewing Center in Macomb. She was also employed by Montgomery Ward Company in Freeport, Quincy and Macomb.
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren held a special place in her heart and life. Having them near her or going places with them was the highlight of her day. She loved making things for them; teaching them to draw or paint, reading books or just spending time together.
Gardening, sewing, needlepoint and quilting were her favorite activities. She and her sister, Viletta, made several quilts for children's homes. Melissia began her artistic endeavors in high school and college. Over the years she shared her paintings, charcoal sketches and pen and ink drawings with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends. She continued to do this after moving to The Elms in 2003 drawing the seasonal pictures for the Menu Boards and The Elms Cookbook cover and section pages. Most of her life she made her own Christmas cards and Christmas stationery.
Melissia was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Macomb. She was active in the Women's Guild and taught in the Kindergarten Sunday School Department for many years. She was also a member of and active in the DAR, New England Women and Quincy Order of Eastern Star Lodge #109 for over 50 years.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 2, 2012 at Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home in Macomb with Reverend Dr. Howard White officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home. She will be buried beside her husband and daughter in the West Point Cemetery in West Point, Illinois.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either The Elms, McDonough District Hospital Hospice Program, St. Paul's School or charity of the donor's choice.
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