Betty Mattingly

When reflecting on the life of Betty Mattingly, words such as gracious, caring, and selfless come to mind, however, the thread that is most commonly woven throughout her tapestry in time is devotion. Whether it was the devotion she had for her faith or the devotion she showed to her family, it was such an inspiration in the lives of those around her. It was no secret that Betty spent the majority of her life with her true love, and together they shared a marriage that most can only dream of as they were soul mates, true companions, and the very best friends. Both in word and in deed she challenged others to not only be themselves and to work hard, but also to take care of others in both the little and the big things. Although Betty’s family is still reeling from an overwhelming sense of loss in such a short span of time, they find comfort in knowing that Betty is at perfect peace alongside the love of her life.

A young couple from Paris, Illinois, was able to shift their focus to a time of great celebration in their lives with the birth of a healthy baby girl on April 20, 1931, in nearby Brocton. Betty R. was the youngest of three children born to her parents, Herman and Florence (Carroll) McGinness, and she was raised in the family home alongside her brothers, Joseph and Maurice.

Betty’s parents were hard working farmers, and growing up on a farm provided her with invaluable life lessons when it came to working hard. When her brothers went off to war during the days of WWII, she had a higher volume of chores to complete around the farm in order to help the family. Betty was involved with raising sheep with the local 4-H, attended a one-room schoolhouse, and valued spending time with her family. She went on to graduate from Brocton High School.

Not to be forgotten during Betty’s years in high school was her introduction to the man with whom she would write a love story that would span more than 60 years. His name was Don Mattingly, and sparks flew from the moment they shared their first dance. A whirlwind romance ensued, and on February 18, 1952, they became husband and wife. The newlyweds settled into their new roles, but it wasn’t long before he was drafted into the United States Army during the days of the Korean Conflict. After two years Don returned home.

There was nothing that Betty and Don treasured more than welcoming their seven children including Barbara, Steve, David, Diana, Sharon, Richard, and Sandra into their hearts and home. While they were building their family Betty and Don also moved from Illinois to Michigan where they eventually settled in Kalamazoo.

Throughout her life the Mattingly family was a flurry of activity with Betty at the helm. She was truly the heartbeat of her family, and she had a way of making each of her children feel uniquely special. Although she could be stern when needed, Betty’s children always knew that they were unconditionally loved and accepted. Betty encouraged them to play outside, and their yard was shaped like a diamond for baseball and kickball games. Not surprisingly, their house was the place where all the kids hung out, too. Church was a very important part of life in Betty’s home as she prayed the Rosary every night and also did evening prayers with the kids. Family vacations were very important including a memorable trip to Disney World and to numerous zoos along the way. Betty challenged her children to overcome their fears while embracing adventure and taught them the importance of working hard, taking care of one another, and being honest in everything they did. She also insisted that if they don’t have anything nice to say they say nothing at all and taught them that the greatest gift anyone has is family.

Even though caring for her family was her primary focus, Betty did find time for other things. Once her children were in school she began working in food service for Sazbo Food Service where she remained for 13 years. From there she worked at Upjohn until her retirement in 1992. Not only did she cook in the workplace, but she loved cooking at home, too, as it was a common sight to see Betty dancing and cooking in the kitchen. It was amazing how she could make a gourmet meal out of nothing. Christmas was a favorite time of year, and of course there was a feast with everything made from scratch. She loved, loved, loved Christmas as it was a time to spoil her family with gifts. As an active couple, both Betty and Don became very involved in the Senior Olympics in bowling, horseshoes, and shuffleboard. For many years they also traveled with the group. Around the house she had a green thumb for her plants and the garden. Betty’s husband was very active with the Knights of Columbus, and every Memorial Day Weekend they traveled up to Mackinac Island with the organization.

During their sunset years both Don and Betty began having various health issues. It was their desire to stay in their home together for as long as possible. Their children did whatever was necessary to make that happen including providing them with 24 hour care over the past year the family spent a day or night caring for them with help from other caregivers. As true partners in life, Betty passed 18 days apart from her beloved husband’s death on November 6th.

A woman who was truly beautiful on the inside and out, Betty Mattingly was a blessing to everyone she met. She was a firm believer in family values, thinking of others first, and loving without condition. Betty devoted her life to her family, and it was when surrounded by their love that she found true joy. She was a woman of grace, humility, and timeless wisdom that will be carried on by those who follow in her footsteps. Betty will never be forgotten.

Betty R. Mattingly, of Kalamazoo, died November 25, 2014, at Rose Arbor Hospice. Betty’s family includes her 7 children: Barbara (Mike) Johnson, Steve (Blanca) Mattingly, David Mattingly, Diana (Mark) Petersen, Sharon (David) Hudson, Richard (Barbara) Mattingly and Sandra Mattingly; 15 grandchildren: Kevin, Kelly, Krista, Kate, Amy, Joseph, Sarah, Dannielle, Amber, Shane, Tyler, Mara, Ryan, Michael and Alex; 4 great-grandchildren: Aspen, Harper, Gavin and Isabella; and many nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Donald L. Mattingly, and by 2 brothers, Joseph and Maurice. Learn more about Betty and visit with her family and friends on Saturday from 2-5 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler – Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Drive (375-2900), where the rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. that afternoon. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday 1 p.m. at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Parchment. Entombment Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park. Following the entombment, food and fellowship will be shared back at the church hall. Please visit Betty’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Ambrose Catholic Church or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.