Betty M. Carroll, 94, of Tuscola, IL, passed away at 12:45 a.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at the Tuscola Health Care Center, Tuscola, IL

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 7, 2017 at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola, IL with Rev. Jerry Silver officiating. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the services at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Tuscola Township Cemetery.

Betty was born on July 2, 1922 in rural Bourbon, Illinois to Avery and Bernice Stevenson McGuire. She moved to Tuscola in 1934, where Betty lived the remainder of her life.

Betty is survived by her son: Mike Carroll and wife: Becky of Tuscola, grandsons: Kurt (Holly) Kleiss of Auburn, IL and Todd Kleiss of Tuscola, great-grandsons: Marcus and Christopher Kleiss.

She was preceded in death by her husband: Homer Carroll, daughter: Melinda Carroll Kleiss, parents, brothers: Keith, Floyd, Avery "Junior", her twin: Bobby and Judson McGuire, sisters: Geraldine "Jerry" Oye, Jean Burmeister, Dorothy Hilligoss and Annabelle Kelsey.

Betty was a 1940 graduate of Tuscola High School and a 1978 graduate of Eastern Illinois University. She married Homer G. Carroll on April 26, 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland, immediately before he embarked for service in the US Navy during World War II. When Homer returned from service, the couple settled in Tuscola.

In 1953, Betty was employed as a secretary for the new chemical plant west of town: Petro/National Distillers. Shortly thereafter, her daughter contracted juvenile diabetes, whereupon Betty, upon the advice of Dr. Phil Deaver to stay home full time to care for Melinda, went to beauty school and opened a beauty shop in her home. She remained a beautician for the rest of her working life, interrupting it briefly to attend college in the 70's, receiving a teaching degree and teaching for several years. She eventually quit full time work to care for, first, her daughter for five years and then, second, for her husband for three years.

Her passions were her family and friends, plants and flowers in her garden, playing piano (then the organ, after learning to play) for the First Baptist Church of Tuscola, where she was a lifetime member, and her Lord and Savior. She had a generous nature and a servant's heart.

In lieu of flowers, the family recommends contributions to the First Baptist Church of Tuscola where Betty received so much fellowship and spiritual support throughout her life.

Online condolences may be shared via hilligossshraderfh.com