Betty Lou Elliott

To Betty Lou Elliott, life was for living and she did just that with such vitality and gusto. When reflecting over her life it is easy to see that she was a woman of passion whether it was for her family, the issues she felt strongly about, or her relationship with the Lord. Betty was a woman of structure who lived by routine and order, yet she could also sit back and relax a little – usually laughing and talking with those she loved most. In fact Betty was a great storyteller whose stories of times gone by were always such a joy to hear and they were certainly laced with the wisdom gained only by a life well-lived.

The year 1928 was part of a prosperous decade in which people were looking to have a good time. They enjoyed going to parties or to the movies and they also purchased things like cars and radios. If they didn’t have the money to pay for what they wanted at the time, well then buying on credit became the new way of life for the first time. This was also a significant year in the family of Willis and Grace (Morris) Ruby as they were celebrating the birth of their daughter, Betty Lou, on April 7th. Betty was born in Nortonville, Illinois as one of four children in her family and it certainly didn’t go unnoticed that she was doted on by her parents. She was a child of the Great Depression which touched just about every American family. The children of this generation, however, didn’t ever realize how tough things really were for their families and since everyone around them was experiencing the same hardship, navigating these tight times was simply just part of living.

Life turned a new corner for Betty when she met the man with whom she would write an eloquent love story over a period of more than 60 years. His name was Kenneth Elliott and after falling deeply in love, Betty became Mrs. Kenneth Elliott on September 14, 1946 in Jacksonville, Illinois. The couple was later blessed with the births of three children whom they both adored. They raised their children for a few years traveling the countryside in a two-story trailer while Kenny supported his family. Once they settled in Kankakee, Illinois, Kenny built the house the family would live in for the next 30 years. Betty blossomed under the care and support of her husband and cherished her role as a homemaker. She was active in the lives of her children and viewed her role as a mother to be both her highest calling and her greatest blessing.

Caring for her family certainly kept Betty busy, but there were many other facets to her life as well. She worked as an executive secretary for the Roper Corporation until she retired in 1973, and she also was employed by Kankakee Spring Service. Betty volunteered at Riverside Medical Center (TWIG) where she was also the past president of the auxiliary and sold jewelry for the hospital as well. She was also a representative for the Illinois Hospital Association, was active in politics and government, and she even ran for a seat in the Constitutional Convention. Betty was one of the original members and past president of the Kankakee chapter of Stop ERA, and was a pro-life supporter too.

There were so many ways in which Betty was unique and for which she will be forever remembered. She was strong-willed and independent, yet her heart was as tender as they come. Betty reveled in her role as a wife and mother and when her legacy grew to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nothing could have delighted her more. She always found something to keep her busy and thrived on order and routine. Betty loved to bowl, read the newspaper aloud, clean her home, plant flowers, and shop – but only at sales. She also collected a variety of things, called in to talk radio programs, took many photographs, visited with family both near and far, and shared stories about her parents or times gone by. Betty liked to dance and listen to the big band music of her youth, and cook and host meals for her family with holiday times being her favorite times to gather. It was no secret though that first and foremost in her life was talking to and about the Lord.

With so much love to give, Betty Lou Elliott greatly enriched the lives of so many within her reach. She was kind and compassionate, gracious and loving while always putting the needs of others ahead of her own. Betty was a woman of faith whose moral beliefs served as the compass she used to guide her every thought, word, and deed. Although her family and friends say goodbye for now, they hold fast to the many precious moments they were given to share with such an extraordinary woman. Betty will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Betty Lou Elliott, 81, of Kankakee died at ManorCare Nursing Home December 4, 2009. Betty’s family includes two daughters: Vickie (Charles) Jackson of Denton, TX, Cindy (Tim) Cordes of Davenport, IA, and one son: Christopher (Carolyn) Elliott of Kankakee, 9 grandchildren: Christine Sterling, Jeff Jackson, Rebecca Aydlot, Sara Hanson, Amy Seward, Hannah Cordes, Lindsay Keller, Rachel Elliott, and Emily Elliott; as well as 12 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, brother Earl Ruby, and two sisters, Gladys Hembrough and Sylvia Retzer. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or photo or sign the online guestbook.