Betty McGuire

Betty McGuire was a woman cut of the warmest, kindest cloth, who always volunteered her time, her effort and her love. She was so many things to so many people – a loving wife and mother, proud grandmother, a friend and shoulder to lean on, and faithful member of her parish. But more than anything, Betty was a wonderful example of the good in people.

1925 found the country right in the middle of the Roaring Twenties. For those living in big cities it was a time of flappers and speakeasies. For those living in small rural towns, it was a time of hard work and raising families. Fred and Winnie (Marling) Lowry lived on a farm in Jennings County, in southern Indiana. While Fred toiled in the fields all day, Winnie cared for their five children: Mary, Elsie, Wayne, Oletha and Louise, and was making preparations for the arrival of their sixth child. An early Christmas present, daughter Betty, was born on December 24, 1925, at home on their farm.

Betty was just a little girl when her family moved to Lawton, Michigan, where her father had secured a job at Welch Foods. Betty received her education in the Lawton schools and went on to graduate with the class of 1943, which consisted of 20 boys and 5 girls. She then attended Western College to study journalism and lived at the president’s house for a semester (this was common because of the war).

Betty was in her early 20s when she met the love of her life, Louis McGuire, at the Oakland Pharmacy ice cream shop. It happened that Lou’s cousin already had a date with Betty, but Lou was quite smitten with her and asked her to accompany him to a formal party. Now what girl doesn’t like to dress up – Betty forgot about the cousin and enjoyed the party with Lou. To this day, Lou would joke` with Betty saying “it’s a formal”, which always made them laugh. Hopelessly in love, Lou and Betty were happily married on February 11, 1950, at St. Augustine Church, and took a romantic train trip to Chicago for their honeymoon where they stayed at the Palmer House. A year later, the couple delighted in welcoming the birth of their only child, daughter Connie, in December 1951. Being a caring and supportive mother was important to Betty, and she took an active role in every phase of her daughter’s life, which included being a Girl Scout Leader for many years. Betty enjoyed artistic activities and over the years she found time for painting, needlework, and sewing.

The family of three relocated several times for Lou’s work, starting in 1954 when they moved to Connecticut for 4 years. They then headed south to Houston, Texas for 3 years and then up to Northbrook, Illinois for 9 years. In the mid 1960s, Betty went to work at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois as an Administrative Assistant to the producer of a local, award winning public affairs television program similar to “Meet The Press.” In 1970, the family finally put down roots in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Once settled, Betty took a job at the WKZO radio station for a few years before going to work at Western Michigan University. She retired from WMU in 1985, after her first granddaughter was born. Nothing made Betty happier than doting on her granddaughters, Elizabeth and Alice; they were the light of her life. She always had a smile on her face and laughter in her heart when spending time with them.

For Betty, family was the greatest source of happiness in her life. She looked forward to their family gatherings for the holidays, especially around Christmas when they celebrated her birthday as well. It became a tradition that Elizabeth and Alice would spend a week each summer with their grandparents where the girls would go to camp at the Kalamazoo Nature Center during the day and to the Plainwell Dairy with their grandparents in the evening. Church was very important to Betty too. She had converted to the Catholic faith and became a devout and active member of St. Augustine Church. Betty valued many things throughout her life, none more important than creating close relationships with the family she treasured so deeply. She was always thoughtful and sensitive to other’s needs, and generous with her time and talents, helping wherever she saw a need.

Over the years, Betty and Lou they took 5 memorable trips to Ireland and one to Scotland. Although Betty was proud of her Scottish heritage, she kind of “converted” to Lou’s birth right as he is a strong Irish man. When they were 9 and 12 years old, the granddaughters accompanied Lou and Betty on one of their trips to Ireland. The two weeks that the four of them spent together traveling throughout Ireland remains one of the highlights of Elizabeth and Alice’s childhoods. In her quieter moments, Betty loved to read, especially biographies. About 10 years ago, Betty suffered a stroke, but was still able to live a productive life. Then, 1 ½ years ago, she broke her shoulder, which started the slow decline of her health. Last year, Betty and Lou moved to The Fountains at Bronson Place, a continuing care retirement community. As her health worsened, Betty moved to The Springs at Bronson Place, where skilled nurses took care of her until her passing on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.

A devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother, Betty will be deeply missed and remembered forever.

Learn more about Betty, view her Life Story film, and share in some refreshments with her family and friends on Thursday, October 14, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (375-2900), where a prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 15, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral. Betty will be buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery followed by a luncheon at St. Augustine Cathedral Center.

Betty was preceded in death by 5 siblings: Mary, Elsie, Wayne, Oletha and Louise. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Louis McGuire; daughter, Constance (Timothy) Richards; 2 granddaughters: Elizabeth (Matthew) Ugarph and Alice Richards; and many nieces and nephews. Please visit Betty’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a memory or photo and sign her online guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to St. Augustine Elementary School, Hackett Catholic Central High School or the charity of one’s choice.