With a vibrant smile and a warm heart, Betty Jean Merrow lived a life rich in faith, family, and friends. Outgoing and generous, Betty welcomed each day as a gift and every person as a friend. Never one to dwell on life's hardships, Betty was determined to live life to the fullest. In her good company, life's joys were always amplified, and no challenge was too great. Betty reflected the goodness in others, often inspiring them to see it themselves. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Betty inspired all who were blessed to share time with her.
Despite the obvious gloom of the Great Depression, 1932 beheld a power of hope that undulated in the hearts of many. With a natural drive to not just endure but thrive in the face of uncertainty, the nation continued to put one foot in front of the other to build a better future. Nowhere was there a greater sense of hope than in St. Ignace, Michigan, as Barney and Ollie (Stoll) McCuan welcomed their daughter Betty to their family on October 2.
Growing up in Clio, Michigan, Betty was a middle child. She shared close bonds with her brother Billie and sister Maxine and had many friends. Betty loved children and started babysitting at the age of nine. In high school, she was a member of the glee club, a drum majorette, and a baton twirler; she earned her school letter playing the clarinet in the band. She also enjoyed roller skating.
Betty met the love of her life, Dossie Elmer Merrow, on a blind date. Instantly smitten by Betty, Doss told his buddies that he was "going to get that one!" His buddies said, "Good luck! She's not an easy one!" Six years older and ready to marry, Doss got his way, and Betty quit high school and married Doss on March 24, 1951. The couple exchanged marriage vows in the Methodist Church in Clio, officially beginning their 62-year adventure together.
The newlyweds moved to California with their best friends, and Betty went to beauty school and trained to be a hairdresser. After a short time, the death of Betty's mother brought them back to Michigan. Around 1953, the Ternstedt Division Coldwater Road General Motors Auto Plant opened to manufacture body hardware. Betty worked there for eight and a half years. She was also a car hop at a drive-in for a time, proudly wearing her roller skates and taking good care of her customers.
On September 11, 1958, Betty and Doss were delighted to become parents when their daughter Diane Marie was born. Four years later, their family was complete on August 4, 1962, when their daughter Sharron Ann came along. Their girls were the loves of their lives and went everywhere with them. Diane was deer hunting at two months old!
In 1974, Doss and Betty purchased property with a barn on it. Together, they build a beautiful home. Happy to make Betty's dream of living in a barn a reality, Doss turned the bottom half of the barn into living space, and Betty filled it to the brim with her treasures! Betty's greatest joy was taking care of others. While raising her children and tending to the home, she helped her husband with his insurance business and opened their home to foster children. She was a Girl Scout leader, belonged to a bowling league, and volunteered with Toys for Tots and S.O.S., helping servicemen overseas.
Never one to sit idle for long, Betty was often on the go and giving her gifts in service of others. Once her children were grown, she worked as a nurse aide for many years. She also worked in assisted living, skilled nursing, and private duty care, ensuring many clients quality, loving care. With a desire to be a strong role model for her grandchildren, Betty returned to school and earned her G.E.D., graduating from Eaton Rapids in 1982. She also attended Lansing Community College for a few classes.
Betty loved to sew and made several special holiday outfits to wear while visiting sick children in the hospitals on Easter and Christmas. She loved gardening, canning, parties, and Christmas. A wonderful hostess, Betty thoroughly enjoyed planning and hosting parties. Every month has a holiday, and Betty hosted a party for each one! She loved Christmas so much that she displayed several Christmas trees year-round! Betty also loved her hats. She had a big collection, but her favorite was the cowboy hat she wore while on her lawn mower. Oh, how she loved to mow the lawn of her hobby farm. Many happy hours, day and night, were spent on the mower, tending the land and home she so dearly loved.
There was so much that made Betty happy. She loved to dress to the "nines," with bows in her hair, fur coats, and a splash of Chanel No. 5. She loved music, garage sales, flea markets, dumpster diving, antiques, and shopping in general. She possessed a keen eye and developed a love of photography at a young age. She could always be found with a camera in hand, and over her lifetime, she took tens of thousands of photos. Traveling the country to visit family and friends was wonderful. Many treasured memories were made in Florida, Washington D.C., Virginia Beach, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Chicago, West Virginia, Indiana, Hawaii, Northern Michigan, and more.
Without a doubt, Betty's greatest happiness was her family. She welcomed her daughters' husbands with enthusiasm and was delighted beyond words to become a grandmother. Next to the births of her daughters, the happiest days of her life were when her six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and great-great-granddaughter were born. She was also honored to be her niece Linda's godmother.
With her Catholic faith as the firm foundation of her life, Betty led by example, embodying her beliefs and inspiring others along the way. Betty loved the Lord and enjoyed leading others to Jesus. She once met a woman on a bus in Arkansas, and they became pen pals. Even when she learned the woman ended up in prison, Betty continued writing to her and led her to Christ. Betty encouraged others to trust God and know that He is always with them. She also showed others how to love thy neighbor and do good onto others. With a light and loving heart, Betty's favorite saying was, "I Love You More…. I Can Because I'm Older!"
Clearly, the world feels a bit duller in the absence of Betty's bright and beautiful spirit. As we face the future in her absence, may we find comfort in our many treasured memories and in the honor of carrying her beautiful legacy forward. Whenever we greet a stranger as a friend, sing Silent Night, lovingly tend to our home, take care of our teeth, keep moving, cheer on our loved one's dreams, and give our worries to God, we celebrate the many ways Betty gifted our lives. In this way, we keep her spirit alive and inspiring others as she so inspired us.
Betty Jean Merrow, 90, of Bluffton, South Carolina, and formerly of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 9, 2023, at her daughter's home with her family by her side. She was born October 2, 1932, in St. Ignace, Michigan, the daughter of Barney and Ollie (Stoll) McCuan. Betty is survived by daughters, Diane (Dennis Dull) Merrow of Bluffton, SC, and Sharron (Doug) Mann of Islamorada, FL; grandchildren, Tasha McNerney, Matthew Dow, Christina Covell, Michelle Lape, Marie Dow, Aubrey Dull, and Nathan Dull; great-grandchildren, Katelin Dow, Olivia Dow, Sabrina Dow, Kyle Bixby, Briana Bixby, Oliver McNerney, Alisyn Dow, Noah Dow, Baron Covell, Coral Covell, Brooke-Lynn Kirsch, Grace Lape, and Lydia Lape; great-great-granddaughter, Jupiter Milliron; brother, Billie McCuan of Springfield, MO; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dossie Merrow, in 2013; grandson, Michael Dow, in 2020; sister and brother-in-law, Maxine and James Thompson; and in-laws, Gloria McCuan and Robert and Minne Merrow.
A Funeral Mass for Betty will be celebrated at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Beal City with Father Thomas Held as celebrant. Following Mass, Betty will be laid to rest in Plains Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. The following day, Friday, March 24, on what would have been the 72nd anniversary of her marriage to Doss, the family invites friends to a Celebration of Life Christmas Party and luncheon at the Lincoln Reception Center, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd., Mt. Pleasant (attached to Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home). Betty's request was to have a Christmas Party no matter what time of year it was to celebrate her life. The family is requesting, for those who wish to participate, to bring a $5 wrapped exchange gift to play a fun game at the luncheon. Wear your Christmas attire also!
Despite the obvious gloom of the Great Depression, 1932 beheld a power of hope that undulated in the hearts of many. With a natural drive to not just endure but thrive in the face of uncertainty, the nation continued to put one foot in front of the other to build a better future. Nowhere was there a greater sense of hope than in St. Ignace, Michigan, as Barney and Ollie (Stoll) McCuan welcomed their daughter Betty to their family on October 2.
Growing up in Clio, Michigan, Betty was a middle child. She shared close bonds with her brother Billie and sister Maxine and had many friends. Betty loved children and started babysitting at the age of nine. In high school, she was a member of the glee club, a drum majorette, and a baton twirler; she earned her school letter playing the clarinet in the band. She also enjoyed roller skating.
Betty met the love of her life, Dossie Elmer Merrow, on a blind date. Instantly smitten by Betty, Doss told his buddies that he was "going to get that one!" His buddies said, "Good luck! She's not an easy one!" Six years older and ready to marry, Doss got his way, and Betty quit high school and married Doss on March 24, 1951. The couple exchanged marriage vows in the Methodist Church in Clio, officially beginning their 62-year adventure together.
The newlyweds moved to California with their best friends, and Betty went to beauty school and trained to be a hairdresser. After a short time, the death of Betty's mother brought them back to Michigan. Around 1953, the Ternstedt Division Coldwater Road General Motors Auto Plant opened to manufacture body hardware. Betty worked there for eight and a half years. She was also a car hop at a drive-in for a time, proudly wearing her roller skates and taking good care of her customers.
On September 11, 1958, Betty and Doss were delighted to become parents when their daughter Diane Marie was born. Four years later, their family was complete on August 4, 1962, when their daughter Sharron Ann came along. Their girls were the loves of their lives and went everywhere with them. Diane was deer hunting at two months old!
In 1974, Doss and Betty purchased property with a barn on it. Together, they build a beautiful home. Happy to make Betty's dream of living in a barn a reality, Doss turned the bottom half of the barn into living space, and Betty filled it to the brim with her treasures! Betty's greatest joy was taking care of others. While raising her children and tending to the home, she helped her husband with his insurance business and opened their home to foster children. She was a Girl Scout leader, belonged to a bowling league, and volunteered with Toys for Tots and S.O.S., helping servicemen overseas.
Never one to sit idle for long, Betty was often on the go and giving her gifts in service of others. Once her children were grown, she worked as a nurse aide for many years. She also worked in assisted living, skilled nursing, and private duty care, ensuring many clients quality, loving care. With a desire to be a strong role model for her grandchildren, Betty returned to school and earned her G.E.D., graduating from Eaton Rapids in 1982. She also attended Lansing Community College for a few classes.
Betty loved to sew and made several special holiday outfits to wear while visiting sick children in the hospitals on Easter and Christmas. She loved gardening, canning, parties, and Christmas. A wonderful hostess, Betty thoroughly enjoyed planning and hosting parties. Every month has a holiday, and Betty hosted a party for each one! She loved Christmas so much that she displayed several Christmas trees year-round! Betty also loved her hats. She had a big collection, but her favorite was the cowboy hat she wore while on her lawn mower. Oh, how she loved to mow the lawn of her hobby farm. Many happy hours, day and night, were spent on the mower, tending the land and home she so dearly loved.
There was so much that made Betty happy. She loved to dress to the "nines," with bows in her hair, fur coats, and a splash of Chanel No. 5. She loved music, garage sales, flea markets, dumpster diving, antiques, and shopping in general. She possessed a keen eye and developed a love of photography at a young age. She could always be found with a camera in hand, and over her lifetime, she took tens of thousands of photos. Traveling the country to visit family and friends was wonderful. Many treasured memories were made in Florida, Washington D.C., Virginia Beach, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Chicago, West Virginia, Indiana, Hawaii, Northern Michigan, and more.
Without a doubt, Betty's greatest happiness was her family. She welcomed her daughters' husbands with enthusiasm and was delighted beyond words to become a grandmother. Next to the births of her daughters, the happiest days of her life were when her six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and great-great-granddaughter were born. She was also honored to be her niece Linda's godmother.
With her Catholic faith as the firm foundation of her life, Betty led by example, embodying her beliefs and inspiring others along the way. Betty loved the Lord and enjoyed leading others to Jesus. She once met a woman on a bus in Arkansas, and they became pen pals. Even when she learned the woman ended up in prison, Betty continued writing to her and led her to Christ. Betty encouraged others to trust God and know that He is always with them. She also showed others how to love thy neighbor and do good onto others. With a light and loving heart, Betty's favorite saying was, "I Love You More…. I Can Because I'm Older!"
Clearly, the world feels a bit duller in the absence of Betty's bright and beautiful spirit. As we face the future in her absence, may we find comfort in our many treasured memories and in the honor of carrying her beautiful legacy forward. Whenever we greet a stranger as a friend, sing Silent Night, lovingly tend to our home, take care of our teeth, keep moving, cheer on our loved one's dreams, and give our worries to God, we celebrate the many ways Betty gifted our lives. In this way, we keep her spirit alive and inspiring others as she so inspired us.
Betty Jean Merrow, 90, of Bluffton, South Carolina, and formerly of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 9, 2023, at her daughter's home with her family by her side. She was born October 2, 1932, in St. Ignace, Michigan, the daughter of Barney and Ollie (Stoll) McCuan. Betty is survived by daughters, Diane (Dennis Dull) Merrow of Bluffton, SC, and Sharron (Doug) Mann of Islamorada, FL; grandchildren, Tasha McNerney, Matthew Dow, Christina Covell, Michelle Lape, Marie Dow, Aubrey Dull, and Nathan Dull; great-grandchildren, Katelin Dow, Olivia Dow, Sabrina Dow, Kyle Bixby, Briana Bixby, Oliver McNerney, Alisyn Dow, Noah Dow, Baron Covell, Coral Covell, Brooke-Lynn Kirsch, Grace Lape, and Lydia Lape; great-great-granddaughter, Jupiter Milliron; brother, Billie McCuan of Springfield, MO; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dossie Merrow, in 2013; grandson, Michael Dow, in 2020; sister and brother-in-law, Maxine and James Thompson; and in-laws, Gloria McCuan and Robert and Minne Merrow.
A Funeral Mass for Betty will be celebrated at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Beal City with Father Thomas Held as celebrant. Following Mass, Betty will be laid to rest in Plains Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. The following day, Friday, March 24, on what would have been the 72nd anniversary of her marriage to Doss, the family invites friends to a Celebration of Life Christmas Party and luncheon at the Lincoln Reception Center, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd., Mt. Pleasant (attached to Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home). Betty's request was to have a Christmas Party no matter what time of year it was to celebrate her life. The family is requesting, for those who wish to participate, to bring a $5 wrapped exchange gift to play a fun game at the luncheon. Wear your Christmas attire also!
With a vibrant smile and a warm heart, Betty Jean Merrow lived a life rich in faith, family, and friends. Outgoing and generous, Betty welcomed each day as a gift and every person as a friend. Never one to dwell on life's hardships, Betty was determined to live life to the fullest. In her good company, life's joys were always amplified, and no challenge was too great. Betty reflected the goodness in others, often inspiring them to see it themselves. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Betty inspired all who were blessed to share time with her.
Despite the obvious gloom of the Great Depression, 1932 beheld a power of hope that undulated in the hearts of many. With a natural drive to not just endure but thrive in the face of uncertainty, the nation continued to put one foot in front of the other to build a better future. Nowhere was there a greater sense of hope than in St. Ignace, Michigan, as Barney and Ollie (Stoll) McCuan welcomed their daughter Betty to their family on October 2.
Growing up in Clio, Michigan, Betty was a middle child. She shared close bonds with her brother Billie and sister Maxine and had many friends. Betty loved children and started babysitting at the age of nine. In high school, she was a member of the glee club, a drum majorette, and a baton twirler; she earned her school letter playing the clarinet in the band. She also enjoyed roller skating.
Betty met the love of her life, Dossie Elmer Merrow, on a blind date. Instantly smitten by Betty, Doss told his buddies that he was "going to get that one!" His buddies said, "Good luck! She's not an easy one!" Six years older and ready to marry, Doss got his way, and Betty quit high school and married Doss on March 24, 1951. The couple exchanged marriage vows in the Methodist Church in Clio, officially beginning their 62-year adventure together.
The newlyweds moved to California with their best friends, and Betty went to beauty school and trained to be a hairdresser. After a short time, the death of Betty's mother brought them back to Michigan. Around 1953, the Ternstedt Division Coldwater Road General Motors Auto Plant opened to manufacture body hardware. Betty worked there for eight and a half years. She was also a car hop at a drive-in for a time, proudly wearing her roller skates and taking good care of her customers.
On September 11, 1958, Betty and Doss were delighted to become parents when their daughter Diane Marie was born. Four years later, their family was complete on August 4, 1962, when their daughter Sharron Ann came along. Their girls were the loves of their lives and went everywhere with them. Diane was deer hunting at two months old!
In 1974, Doss and Betty purchased property with a barn on it. Together, they build a beautiful home. Happy to make Betty's dream of living in a barn a reality, Doss turned the bottom half of the barn into living space, and Betty filled it to the brim with her treasures! Betty's greatest joy was taking care of others. While raising her children and tending to the home, she helped her husband with his insurance business and opened their home to foster children. She was a Girl Scout leader, belonged to a bowling league, and volunteered with Toys for Tots and S.O.S., helping servicemen overseas.
Never one to sit idle for long, Betty was often on the go and giving her gifts in service of others. Once her children were grown, she worked as a nurse aide for many years. She also worked in assisted living, skilled nursing, and private duty care, ensuring many clients quality, loving care. With a desire to be a strong role model for her grandchildren, Betty returned to school and earned her G.E.D., graduating from Eaton Rapids in 1982. She also attended Lansing Community College for a few classes.
Betty loved to sew and made several special holiday outfits to wear while visiting sick children in the hospitals on Easter and Christmas. She loved gardening, canning, parties, and Christmas. A wonderful hostess, Betty thoroughly enjoyed planning and hosting parties. Every month has a holiday, and Betty hosted a party for each one! She loved Christmas so much that she displayed several Christmas trees year-round! Betty also loved her hats. She had a big collection, but her favorite was the cowboy hat she wore while on her lawn mower. Oh, how she loved to mow the lawn of her hobby farm. Many happy hours, day and night, were spent on the mower, tending the land and home she so dearly loved.
There was so much that made Betty happy. She loved to dress to the "nines," with bows in her hair, fur coats, and a splash of Chanel No. 5. She loved music, garage sales, flea markets, dumpster diving, antiques, and shopping in general. She possessed a keen eye and developed a love of photography at a young age. She could always be found with a camera in hand, and over her lifetime, she took tens of thousands of photos. Traveling the country to visit family and friends was wonderful. Many treasured memories were made in Florida, Washington D.C., Virginia Beach, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Chicago, West Virginia, Indiana, Hawaii, Northern Michigan, and more.
Without a doubt, Betty's greatest happiness was her family. She welcomed her daughters' husbands with enthusiasm and was delighted beyond words to become a grandmother. Next to the births of her daughters, the happiest days of her life were when her six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and great-great-granddaughter were born. She was also honored to be her niece Linda's godmother.
With her Catholic faith as the firm foundation of her life, Betty led by example, embodying her beliefs and inspiring others along the way. Betty loved the Lord and enjoyed leading others to Jesus. She once met a woman on a bus in Arkansas, and they became pen pals. Even when she learned the woman ended up in prison, Betty continued writing to her and led her to Christ. Betty encouraged others to trust God and know that He is always with them. She also showed others how to love thy neighbor and do good onto others. With a light and loving heart, Betty's favorite saying was, "I Love You More…. I Can Because I'm Older!"
Clearly, the world feels a bit duller in the absence of Betty's bright and beautiful spirit. As we face the future in her absence, may we find comfort in our many treasured memories and in the honor of carrying her beautiful legacy forward. Whenever we greet a stranger as a friend, sing Silent Night, lovingly tend to our home, take care of our teeth, keep moving, cheer on our loved one's dreams, and give our worries to God, we celebrate the many ways Betty gifted our lives. In this way, we keep her spirit alive and inspiring others as she so inspired us.
Betty Jean Merrow, 90, of Bluffton, South Carolina, and formerly of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 9, 2023, at her daughter's home with her family by her side. She was born October 2, 1932, in St. Ignace, Michigan, the daughter of Barney and Ollie (Stoll) McCuan. Betty is survived by daughters, Diane (Dennis Dull) Merrow of Bluffton, SC, and Sharron (Doug) Mann of Islamorada, FL; grandchildren, Tasha McNerney, Matthew Dow, Christina Covell, Michelle Lape, Marie Dow, Aubrey Dull, and Nathan Dull; great-grandchildren, Katelin Dow, Olivia Dow, Sabrina Dow, Kyle Bixby, Briana Bixby, Oliver McNerney, Alisyn Dow, Noah Dow, Baron Covell, Coral Covell, Brooke-Lynn Kirsch, Grace Lape, and Lydia Lape; great-great-granddaughter, Jupiter Milliron; brother, Billie McCuan of Springfield, MO; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dossie Merrow, in 2013; grandson, Michael Dow, in 2020; sister and brother-in-law, Maxine and James Thompson; and in-laws, Gloria McCuan and Robert and Minne Merrow.
A Funeral Mass for Betty will be celebrated at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Beal City with Father Thomas Held as celebrant. Following Mass, Betty will be laid to rest in Plains Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. The following day, Friday, March 24, on what would have been the 72nd anniversary of her marriage to Doss, the family invites friends to a Celebration of Life Christmas Party and luncheon at the Lincoln Reception Center, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd., Mt. Pleasant (attached to Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home). Betty's request was to have a Christmas Party no matter what time of year it was to celebrate her life. The family is requesting, for those who wish to participate, to bring a $5 wrapped exchange gift to play a fun game at the luncheon. Wear your Christmas attire also!
Despite the obvious gloom of the Great Depression, 1932 beheld a power of hope that undulated in the hearts of many. With a natural drive to not just endure but thrive in the face of uncertainty, the nation continued to put one foot in front of the other to build a better future. Nowhere was there a greater sense of hope than in St. Ignace, Michigan, as Barney and Ollie (Stoll) McCuan welcomed their daughter Betty to their family on October 2.
Growing up in Clio, Michigan, Betty was a middle child. She shared close bonds with her brother Billie and sister Maxine and had many friends. Betty loved children and started babysitting at the age of nine. In high school, she was a member of the glee club, a drum majorette, and a baton twirler; she earned her school letter playing the clarinet in the band. She also enjoyed roller skating.
Betty met the love of her life, Dossie Elmer Merrow, on a blind date. Instantly smitten by Betty, Doss told his buddies that he was "going to get that one!" His buddies said, "Good luck! She's not an easy one!" Six years older and ready to marry, Doss got his way, and Betty quit high school and married Doss on March 24, 1951. The couple exchanged marriage vows in the Methodist Church in Clio, officially beginning their 62-year adventure together.
The newlyweds moved to California with their best friends, and Betty went to beauty school and trained to be a hairdresser. After a short time, the death of Betty's mother brought them back to Michigan. Around 1953, the Ternstedt Division Coldwater Road General Motors Auto Plant opened to manufacture body hardware. Betty worked there for eight and a half years. She was also a car hop at a drive-in for a time, proudly wearing her roller skates and taking good care of her customers.
On September 11, 1958, Betty and Doss were delighted to become parents when their daughter Diane Marie was born. Four years later, their family was complete on August 4, 1962, when their daughter Sharron Ann came along. Their girls were the loves of their lives and went everywhere with them. Diane was deer hunting at two months old!
In 1974, Doss and Betty purchased property with a barn on it. Together, they build a beautiful home. Happy to make Betty's dream of living in a barn a reality, Doss turned the bottom half of the barn into living space, and Betty filled it to the brim with her treasures! Betty's greatest joy was taking care of others. While raising her children and tending to the home, she helped her husband with his insurance business and opened their home to foster children. She was a Girl Scout leader, belonged to a bowling league, and volunteered with Toys for Tots and S.O.S., helping servicemen overseas.
Never one to sit idle for long, Betty was often on the go and giving her gifts in service of others. Once her children were grown, she worked as a nurse aide for many years. She also worked in assisted living, skilled nursing, and private duty care, ensuring many clients quality, loving care. With a desire to be a strong role model for her grandchildren, Betty returned to school and earned her G.E.D., graduating from Eaton Rapids in 1982. She also attended Lansing Community College for a few classes.
Betty loved to sew and made several special holiday outfits to wear while visiting sick children in the hospitals on Easter and Christmas. She loved gardening, canning, parties, and Christmas. A wonderful hostess, Betty thoroughly enjoyed planning and hosting parties. Every month has a holiday, and Betty hosted a party for each one! She loved Christmas so much that she displayed several Christmas trees year-round! Betty also loved her hats. She had a big collection, but her favorite was the cowboy hat she wore while on her lawn mower. Oh, how she loved to mow the lawn of her hobby farm. Many happy hours, day and night, were spent on the mower, tending the land and home she so dearly loved.
There was so much that made Betty happy. She loved to dress to the "nines," with bows in her hair, fur coats, and a splash of Chanel No. 5. She loved music, garage sales, flea markets, dumpster diving, antiques, and shopping in general. She possessed a keen eye and developed a love of photography at a young age. She could always be found with a camera in hand, and over her lifetime, she took tens of thousands of photos. Traveling the country to visit family and friends was wonderful. Many treasured memories were made in Florida, Washington D.C., Virginia Beach, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Chicago, West Virginia, Indiana, Hawaii, Northern Michigan, and more.
Without a doubt, Betty's greatest happiness was her family. She welcomed her daughters' husbands with enthusiasm and was delighted beyond words to become a grandmother. Next to the births of her daughters, the happiest days of her life were when her six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and great-great-granddaughter were born. She was also honored to be her niece Linda's godmother.
With her Catholic faith as the firm foundation of her life, Betty led by example, embodying her beliefs and inspiring others along the way. Betty loved the Lord and enjoyed leading others to Jesus. She once met a woman on a bus in Arkansas, and they became pen pals. Even when she learned the woman ended up in prison, Betty continued writing to her and led her to Christ. Betty encouraged others to trust God and know that He is always with them. She also showed others how to love thy neighbor and do good onto others. With a light and loving heart, Betty's favorite saying was, "I Love You More…. I Can Because I'm Older!"
Clearly, the world feels a bit duller in the absence of Betty's bright and beautiful spirit. As we face the future in her absence, may we find comfort in our many treasured memories and in the honor of carrying her beautiful legacy forward. Whenever we greet a stranger as a friend, sing Silent Night, lovingly tend to our home, take care of our teeth, keep moving, cheer on our loved one's dreams, and give our worries to God, we celebrate the many ways Betty gifted our lives. In this way, we keep her spirit alive and inspiring others as she so inspired us.
Betty Jean Merrow, 90, of Bluffton, South Carolina, and formerly of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 9, 2023, at her daughter's home with her family by her side. She was born October 2, 1932, in St. Ignace, Michigan, the daughter of Barney and Ollie (Stoll) McCuan. Betty is survived by daughters, Diane (Dennis Dull) Merrow of Bluffton, SC, and Sharron (Doug) Mann of Islamorada, FL; grandchildren, Tasha McNerney, Matthew Dow, Christina Covell, Michelle Lape, Marie Dow, Aubrey Dull, and Nathan Dull; great-grandchildren, Katelin Dow, Olivia Dow, Sabrina Dow, Kyle Bixby, Briana Bixby, Oliver McNerney, Alisyn Dow, Noah Dow, Baron Covell, Coral Covell, Brooke-Lynn Kirsch, Grace Lape, and Lydia Lape; great-great-granddaughter, Jupiter Milliron; brother, Billie McCuan of Springfield, MO; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dossie Merrow, in 2013; grandson, Michael Dow, in 2020; sister and brother-in-law, Maxine and James Thompson; and in-laws, Gloria McCuan and Robert and Minne Merrow.
A Funeral Mass for Betty will be celebrated at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Beal City with Father Thomas Held as celebrant. Following Mass, Betty will be laid to rest in Plains Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. The following day, Friday, March 24, on what would have been the 72nd anniversary of her marriage to Doss, the family invites friends to a Celebration of Life Christmas Party and luncheon at the Lincoln Reception Center, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd., Mt. Pleasant (attached to Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home). Betty's request was to have a Christmas Party no matter what time of year it was to celebrate her life. The family is requesting, for those who wish to participate, to bring a $5 wrapped exchange gift to play a fun game at the luncheon. Wear your Christmas attire also!
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
