Betty Willoughby

Funeral services for Betty Willoughby will be Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. at the Pleasantville Church of Christ. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Pleasantville Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in care of Betty’s family.

Betty Jane Tickle was born December 22, 1931, to George and Alberta Tickle in Dallas, Iowa. Betty grew up in Dallas where she attended country school. While in high school, Betty met Leo Willoughby. The couple was united in marriage on February 28, 1948.

Betty and Leo were blessed with five children: Leo Dean, Robert, Susan, Brenda, and David. After Robert and his wife Jackie were killed in an auto accident, Betty and Leo raised Robert's daughter, Melonie, as their own. They made their home in Pleasantville and raised their children there. They were active members of the Pleasantville Church of Christ. Betty and Leo moved to Melcher for the last five years of Leo’s life. Betty returned to Pleasantville after Leo’s passing.

Betty worked as a dietician for the VA for twenty-six years before retiring in 1994. After retirement, Betty loved having extra time to spend with Leo, their children, and their grandchildren. Betty loved to cook and bake. She remembered everyone’s favorite foods and made them often. She was lovingly called “Grandma Cookie” and “Grape Grammy” by her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.

Some of Betty’s favorite past times were gardening and going dancing with Leo. She also looked forward to every family function. Nothing made her face light up like having her grandchildren around.

Betty passed away January 4, 2023, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her children: daughter, Susan Irving, daughter, Brenda (Branden) Heiden, son, David (Michelle) Willoughby, daughter, Melonie Hyatt, and daughter-in-law, Mary Willoughby; 17 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; many great great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Dorothy Tickle; sister-in-law, Shirley Willoughby; brother-in-law, Lloyd (Jean) Willoughby; sister-in-law, Julietta Thomas; and her beloved friends, Virginia Roff and Dixie Gilderbloom.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Willoughby in 2015; son, Leo Dean Willoughby­­; son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Jackie Willoughby; brother, Chet Tickle; and in-laws: David “Buzz” Willoughby, Jim Thomas, and Lucille Lathrop.

The service will be livestreamed through the following link: https://my.gather.app/remember/betty-willoughby