Betty Lou Grear

Betty Lou Grear (Chini) was called home to Heaven on November 14, 2025, at the age of 80. A longtime resident of Zeigler, Illinois, Betty lived a life defined by love, service, and unwavering devotion to the people around her. 

At her core, Betty was a mother who gave everything she had to her two children. She built her home around compassion, honesty, and a fierce protective spirit. While raising her family, she also dedicated more than five decades of her life to the service of others as an EMT and firefighter with the Flushing, Ohio Fire Department and later the Zeigler Fire Department. Caring for people wasn’t just something she did — it was who she was. Her commitment to helping others followed her throughout her life, including her years working as a Certified Medical Assistant. 

Born in Flushing, Ohio, Betty made Illinois her home when she moved to Zeigler in 1976. She is survived by her sister, Connie Hollingsworth of Sanford, Florida; her daughter, Donna (Robert) Moore of Thompsonville, Illinois; and her son, David (Stefeny) Grear of Zeigler, Illinois.

 Betty’s greatest pride and joy were her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. She cherished each of them deeply. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren include: 

– Amanda (Christopher) Prosise of Zeigler, and their two boys, Caden and Isaac.

 – Brooke (Joe) Bridges of Murphysboro, and their sons, Jake and Brandon. 

– Racheal (Asa) McVicker of Carterville, and their children, Cadence, Jocelyn, and Bowyn.

 – Keegan (Emily) Grear of Zeigler, and their daughter, Ella May.

 – Chandler (Lauren) Fisher of Belleville, and their son, Connor. 

– And her bonus granddaughter, Lyla Miller of Zeigler. 

Betty created a home that welcomed everyone. There was always room at her table, and she treated her children’s friends as her own — feeding them, guiding them, and offering the kind of steady love that made them feel safe. She was firm when she needed to be, honest when it counted, and she never hesitated to speak her mind. Her strength was matched only by her kindness. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Ella Chini, and her brother-in-law, William Hollingsworth. 

The family will hold a celebration of life at a later date, honoring a woman whose love and legacy will continue to resonate through every life she touched.