Betty Leroy, 81

Betty J. Leroy, 81, of Highland died Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (BJC) in St. Louis, Mo.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, July 4 at First Baptist Church in Highland, with Pastor Bill Dempsey officiating. Burial was in Gullick Cemetery in Highland. Arrangements were handled by Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland.

She was born on May 16, 1934 in Carlinville to Kenneth R. and Pearl A. (Angelo) Stayton. On March 27, 1960, she married Millard D. Leroy. He passed away on Jan. 7, 1988.

Mrs. Leroy was raised in Carlinville and graduated from Carlinville High School in 1954. She was the youngest of seven children.

She served as a Brownie leader and 4-H leader of the Happy Hour 4-H Club for 14 years. She and her husband raised Yorkshire hogs and Mondale and Shropshire sheep.

She enjoyed making and decorating wedding cakes, sewing, knitting, arts, crafts, quilting, planting, tending to her flower garden, and playing cards with friends.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Highland and was a former Gullick Cemetery trustee.

Survivors include daughters, Carmen L. (Gene) Jansen of Shattuc, Ill., and Tammy J. (Larry) Brink of Highland; grandchildren, Travis M. (Tricia) Brink of Riverside, Iowa, Emmalee J. (Daniel) Haege of Nashville, Ill., and Caleb M. Brink of Columbia, Mo.; great-grandchildren, Callie Mae Brink and Milly Faye Haege; sisters, Oella Fullington of Carlinville and Jean Klaus of Carlinville; a brother, Dean (Helen) Stayton of Carlinville; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Stayton of Carlinville; and brother-in-law, Bill (Inez) Leroy of West Boylston, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Marcella Talley; and brothers, Kenneth Stayton and Eldon Francis “Jack” Stayton.

Memorials may be made to Gullick Cemetery, First Baptist Church or to the family.

This story was originally published July 6, 2015 at 8:28 AM with the headline "Betty Leroy, 81."