LOXA, IL – Betty M. Lawrence, age 79 of Loxa, Illinois and formerly of Carbondale, Illinois, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home on Friday, January 15, 2021. The private graveside service, honoring and celebrating her life will be held at Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston with Pastor Matthew Philbrick officiating. Charitable gifts in her honor may be made to Lincolnland Hospice or to the Coles County Animal Shelter and mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, Illinois 61920.
Betty was born September 5, 1941 in Carbondale, Illinois, a daughter of the late Edward and Dorothy (McGuire) Smith. She married Jerry Lawrence on May 6, 1968 in Murphysboro, Illinois. In addition to Jerry, her loving and devoted husband of 52 years, she is survived by two sons, Maurice Edward Lawrence and wife Sherry of Mattoon, Illinois and Steven Douglas Lawrence and wife Tasha of Charleston, Illinois; two grandchildren, Shay Westfall and husband Brandon, and Shelby Colclasure and husband Chad, all of Windsor, Illinois; a great-grandchild, Eli Adam Colclasure, a step-great-grandchild, Justin Parmer; and her sister, Marjorie Schaffer and husband William of Troy, Illinois. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Charles “Bud” Smith.
Growing up, Betty attended Baptist Churches in the Murphysboro-Carbondale areas. Following her high school graduation Betty began working for General Telephone in Carbondale as a switchboard operator. After locating to Mattoon, she was employed as a customer service representative for Consolidated Communications until her retirement. She was a member of the Mattoon Moose Lodge #803 and Mattoon Fraternal Order of Eagles #3438. As one who loved to cook, Betty had amassed quite the cookbook collection and was able to pursue her love for cooking as a part-time cook at both clubs as well as the former Lakewood Village where her mother-in-law resided. She was also an excellent seamstress, sewing many of her own clothes. Betty was a lover of all animals and had a fondness for bird watching. Her subscription to Birds and Blooms Magazine helped in identifying the many different varieties that gathered around her home and she especially looked forward to the return of the hummingbirds every spring. Taking care of her family was always Betty’s number one priority and as a wife, mother, and grandmother, she gifted them with her unconditional love and devotion. There are many fond memories of this special lady that her family will forever cherish.
A NOTE OF THANKS!
I want to extend a thank you and my deepest appreciation to all those who have supported our family during this time of loss. To those who attended the visitation and graveside service, your loving presence meant so much and offered our family great comfort. To the many friends who have provided food and stopped by just to visit - we will forever be grateful. And to the hospice staff that helped us at home - your comforting care and assistance was so greatly appreciated. Jerry Lawrence and family
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