Betty "Betts" McCarthy

MADISON, WI – Betty "Betts" Baker McCarthy, age 92 of Madison, WI and formerly of Charleston, passed away on Monday, December 10, 2012 in Madison.  Visitation for family and friends will be held Friday, December 21, 2012 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston.  Services honoring and celebrating her life will begin at 2:00 p.m. immediately following the visitation with Father John Titus officiating.  Interment will follow in Roselawn Cemetery, Charleston.  It is requested that memorial gifts in her honor be made to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or to Hospice.  Gifts may be left on the memorial table at the visitation or service, or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920. 

Betty was born on May 22, 1920 in Charleston and was a daughter of the late George Washington and Winifred Columbia (Harrell) Baker.  She married William Joseph McCarthy on April 28, 1943 in Chicago and they enjoyed sixty-one years of friendship and marriage prior to his death on February 2, 2005.  She is survived by her three loving and devoted children, Kathleen Ann Revercomb and husband Henry (Hank) of Madison, WI, Carol Elizabeth Perry and husband Augie of Prescott, AZ and Daniel Joseph McCarthy and wife Estelle Murchison of Austin, TX; four grandchildren, Nathan W. Revercomb, Megan E. Correll and husband Nicolas, Sarah Diestler and husband Rob and Adam Perry; three great-grandchildren, Emmett Cole Correll, Henry Paul Correll and Wyatt Diestler; nieces, Suzanne Zimmerle, Mary Lou Stracke and Jan Boyd; and nephews, Michael Maloy and Jay Petty.  In addition to her parents and husband Betty was preceded in death by two children, Craig McCarthy and Christine McCarthy; a sister, Lois Petty and a sister-in-law, Patricia Maloy. 

Betty earned her Bachelors degree from Eastern Illinois State Teachers College and briefly taught Home Economics in the Hammond/Gary, IN School District.  Betty spent much of her life caring for her family in the Highland, IN/greater Chicago area, but made the McCarthy home warm and loving wherever it traveled to, including homes on both U.S. coasts and Australia.  She enjoyed traveling, sewing, knitting, embroidery work and was an avid reader.  She generously gave of her time and received several awards for her volunteer work with children at the library in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Betts, as she was known by family and friends, was a joy to know-beautiful with big blue eyes that sparkled with love and life when she smiled warmly at you.  She charmed everyone she met with her sweet and graceful personality.  Her authentically thoughtful and caring nature garnered her many loyal friends across the country and abroad in Australia.  Betts was especially loved by her family and will always be remembered as a loving and supportive wife and mother.