Helen Garrott

ANNA, Ill. -- Helen Elizabeth "Betty" Eagle Garrott, 94, of Anna passed away Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, at Union County Hospital.

Betty was born Sept. 23, 1918, in Murphysboro, Ill., the third daughter of Fred White and Helen Crane Eagle. She married Jeff George Garrott Aug. 30, 1940, in Anna.

She is survived by a son, Fred (Paula) Garrott of Springfield; son-in-law, Earl "Bud" (Rosemary) Wolf of Sun City West, Ariz.; four grandchildren, Scott (Debbie) Wolf of Kenosha, Wis., Wendy Wolf of Atlanta, Christopher Wolf of Chicago and Whitney Garrott (Kyle) Smith of Chicago; eight great-grandchildren, Jordan Wolf, Stephanie Wolf, Cassandra Wolf (Alex) Stinefast, Haley Wolf, Alyssa Wolf, McKenna Wolf, Garrott Smith and Clayton Smith.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 2009; sisters, Alice K. Williams and Harriette Schleifer; and a daughter, Carolyn Wolf.

Betty grew up fast, as she started school at the same time as her older sister. When she was 17, she chauffeured her aunt, uncle and sister on a three-week road trip to Washington, D.C., New York and Niagara Falls in her uncle's seven-passenger LaSalle.

A few years after their marriage, Betty purchased the Hileman Seed Store from her aunt while Jeff was still serving in World War II. Betty and Jeff managed the store for several decades, until it was sold to F-S.

They were also proprietors of several other Anna businesses, including Anna Hotel, Garrott Fairway Furniture, a peach orchard and Union County Real Estate. Betty was active in her community, church, American Legion Auxiliary (president), Anna Fair, Delta Theta Tau sorority (state president) and DAR (regent).

Betty was known for collecting eagle memorabilia, her namesake. She also had a knack for crafts, most of which benefited church missions. She was a member of Anna First Church of the Nazarene.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Anna.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with Richard Keeley and John Ruzich officiating. Interment will be in Anna City Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Anna First Church of the Nazarene and will be accepted at the funeral home.

To leave online condolences visit www.crainsonline.com.