Betty Little Obituary

RANTOUL - The world became brighter, more loving and a lot more fun on Sept. 22, 1932, when God placed Betty Louise Little into the loving arms of J.W. and Lucille Eater in their hometown of Mt. Vernon. Ten years later, she was delighted to receive her baby brother and lifelong friend, John Eater.

Betty loved her life in Mt. Vernon and regaled us with stories of her childhood there. We loved hearing these stories and enjoyed how her face lit up when she shared them all. She moved to Rantoul when her dad became superintendent of Rantoul City Schools. A difficult move for a 13-year-old, but it became home.

Betty led a full life! Always taking every opportunity to learn something new. She could be found sewing, painting, antiquing, enjoying garage sales, gardening and working crossword and jigsaw puzzles. She and her brother, John, shared a love of genealogy and researched both sides of their family. She was often searching cemeteries, looking for gravestones. She also loved cheering on the Chicago Cubs and teasing her friends who were usually Cardinals fans. She always had a smile ... always ... and never met a stranger. Our social butterfly.

Betty's look on life was rooted in her favorite scripture verse - "This is the day that the Lord has made ... we will rejoice and be glad in it."

Most of all, Betty loved her family. Family always came first. We are blessed with so many memories of daily family times along with our game nights, attending festivals, holidays, etc. So many hours spent enjoying time together in big and small ways.

She and her husband, Roger, were married 44 years when he passed away in 2004.

Left to cherish her memory are her brother, John Eater; daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Jim Atkins; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Megan and Justin Park; great-grandson, Andrew Potts; daughter and son-in-law, Barb and Steve Hatfield and the families of their children, Cory, Callie and Carissa Hatfield; and special sister-in-law, Lila Shields.

While Betty would have never been ready to leave her family, the Lord called her home on Friday (Jan. 26, 2024).

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 2, at Baier Family Funeral Services, 406 E. Pells St., Paxton. A private family burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery, Rantoul. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb.1, at the funeral home.

We want to thank the amazing aides and nurses at Reflections of Holly Brook for their loving care of "Miss Betty," the nurses and her aide from Transitions Hospice along with Synergy Home Care. We can never thank you all enough for the love and care given to her and the love and support given to our family. Betty would want those who care about her to share a smile, a hug, some laughter and compassion to those God puts in their path. And a smile ... always a smile.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, the Champaign County Humane Society or an organization of the donor's choice. Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at baierfuneralservices.com.