Elizabeth "Betty" Peck

Elizabeth “Betty” Peck was truly a beautiful woman, inside and out. She purposely looked for ways to give to others, always thinking of their needs before her own. Betty had a generous spirit and loved to give of her time and talents. Her enjoyable and kind manner won her many friends who considered it a privilege to know her. Betty was a humble woman who, through her love and hard work, provided a strong and benevolent foundation for her family.

The year was 1918 and Woodrow Wilson had been elected to his second term as President of the United States, Irving Berlin penned God Bless America and World War I was reaching its crescendo. In Manhattan, Kansas, a bustling city at the junction of Big Blue and Kansas Rivers in the northeastern part of the state, Charles Titus and his wife, Martha (Smith), welcomed a tiny bundle of joy into their lives with the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth, on June 17, 1918.

Because her father was a career man in the U.S. Air Force, Betty, as she was called, and her brother, Charles, spent their growing up years in a few different places. By the time Betty was in high school, the family lived in Cherokee, Oklahoma, where they remained until she graduated in 1935. Shortly thereafter, Betty married her first husband, Russell Clarence Morris. Their first daughter, Judith Marilyn, died shortly after birth but their family quick grew to include three other children: John, Roger and Mary Pat. Unfortunately, their marriage eventually ended in divorce. Later, she married William “Bill” Joseph Peck, and they had two daughters together: Martha Ann and Marguerite “Maggy”. (There was a 20 year difference between Betty’s first and last born.) Betty’s marriage to William also ended in divorce, though they always remained friends.

Betty’s most defining trait was her fierce work ethic. When she and Bill were married, they owned two cafeteria’s wherein Betty was the only cook. Every day, she made 5 entrees with all the side dishes and homemade pies for dessert, all of which she made from scratch. Betty kept this schedule for about 9 years before she and Bill divorced. She then decided to start over out west and packed up a U-Haul and moved her 2 girls to Fresno, California in 1969. Although she only had $150 in her pocket, Betty was determined to make a good life for her girls. She soon bought a home for them, and got a job as an Administrative Assistant at the Fresno City Community College District. Betty loved her job at the college and made many new friends among her co-workers. Working there also gave her the opportunity to provide her girls with a college education. In addition to her day job, Betty also took care of the finances for St. Luke’s United Methodist Church for about 14 years.

Betty was a pretty handy lady to have around. Anything she didn’t know how to do but wanted to, she got a book about it at the library and took on the task. In fact, she once tiled her kitchen counters and laid a brick patio simply by reading a how-to book. But Betty didn’t just do things, however, she did them to perfection! For fun, Betty enjoyed getting together with a group of good friends in Fresno to play Bridge, and loved to stay busy tending to her garden, which brought her so much joy. In 2001, Betty moved to Mooresville, Indiana to live with her daughter, Martha Ann, who was working for Eli Lilly and Company. Her youngest daughter and son-in-law, Maggy and Matt also lived in Mooresville. It wasn’t long before Betty was settled in her new community and had new friends to share time with. She attended Mooresville Church of God and was an avid participant in Bible Study Fellowship International.

Sadly, Betty was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May of this year and died at home surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

Betty Peck was a kind and good person, whose greatest joy was sharing herself with her family, offering them the most precious gifts – her support and her prayer. These are gifts none of her loved ones will ever forget.

Betty was preceded in death by her daughters, Judith Marilyn Morris and Mary Pat Frederick, and a brother, Charles Brown Titus. Survivors include her children: John Morris (Nancy) of Yorba Linda, CA, Roger Morris (Evelyn) of Gallup, NM, Martha Ann Peck of Mooresville, IN, Marguerite “Maggy” Fisher (Matt) of Mooresville, IN; grandchildren: Shannah Kasperski of CA, Scott Morris of CA, Brian Morris of NM; great grandchildren, Breanna and Ashley Kasperski.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 2, in the Mooresville Church of God, 218 E. Main Street, Mooresville, with Pastor Jeremy Towne officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bible Study Fellowship International, 19001 Huebner Road, San Antonio, TX 78258. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Carlisle & Son Funeral Chapel, Mooresville, IN. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory with Betty’s family or sign her online guest book.