Betty Lou Terrell of Van Buren, Arkansas, formerly of Hamilton, Ill., passed away on August 10, 2024, at 97. Betty, the youngest of four daughters, was born January 17, 1927, to James Cook and Harriet Pearl (nee Brown) Kinkade in Hamilton, Illinois.
Betty’s first job was at the local Maid-Rite. After graduating from Hamilton High School in 1944, she moved to Chicago to work until men returning from World War II took her job. She returned to Hamilton and met her future husband, Walter Corwin “Beezer” Terrell.
Betty and Beezer raised six children. Besides her work as a stay-at-home mom, she also worked for years in the banking industry and served as Hamilton City Treasurer early in her retirement.
Betty loved holidays or any reason to hold a celebration. Her baking skills were unmatched and much appreciated by all who knew her. She loved spending time with her girlfriends, many of whom were high school friends, traveling and collecting recipes. She also loved dogs and keeping up with the lives of her large family.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Maxine (Sonny) Dennis, Elma (Richard) Burton, and Mary (Alyn) Erickson; sons Bruce Terrell and Timothy Terrell; and daughters-in-law Kim Terrell and Lorraine Terrell.
Survivors include children Teresa (Delbert) Smock, Council Bluffs, Iowa; Janie (Jim) Simmons, Van Buren, Ark.; Mike (Carla) Terrell, Warsaw, Ill., and Jim Terrell, Omaha, Neb.; grandchildren Lisa (Steve) Fischer, Trent (Daphne) Stevens, Sarah Smock (Steve Csobaji), Terri (Dan) Fichter, Nicole (Mark) Otte, Teresa Haller, Chris (Marta) Terrell, Liz (Jeff) Newman, Raegan Terrell (Jill Blake), Miranda (Edward) Kijanka, Kevin (Laura) Kline, and Jenna Terrell; 24 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; two nieces, Marjie Shields and Jeannie (Phil) Prindle and two nephews, Bill Dennis and Jerry (Lisa) Dennis.
Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, preceded by visitation at 10 a.m. Interment will be with her husband and two sons in Hamilton.
Memorials may be sent to the Bethel Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, Illinois.
Tributes and condolences may be left at www.printyfuneralhome.com.
Printy Funeral Home of Hamilton is in charge of arrangements.
