Betty Louise Hammons, 88, of St. Marys, passed away Monday evening, April 4, 2011 at the St. Mary’s Living Center .

She was born on September 28, 1922, outside of St. Marys growing up on an Auglaize County farm with her grandparents, Hiram and Louisa Casperson, and her parents, the late Ferd and Marie (Casperson) Meyers.

On April 26, 1942, she married Charles Hammons, a WWII veteran, who, after nearly 48 years of marriage, passed away on March 20, 1990. Betty was also preceded in death by a special companion of 16 years, James Cooper, who died in January, 2010.

Two children survive her: Ronald L. Hammons of Celina and Linda (Jerry) Marvin of St. Marys. Also surviving are nine grandchildren: Sherrie Casad-Lodge (David) of Sidney, Kathleen Myers of Virginia Beach, Brian Marvin (Nicki) of Sidney, Kenneth Marvin (Ronda) of Sidney, Robert Marvin of Sidney, Ronald L. Hammons, Jr. of Houma, Louisiana, Rhonda Lewis of Slidell,Louisiana, Christopher Hammons of Celina and Jennifer Henkle (Dennis) of Roundhead. Betty also had 15 great grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter.

Betty was a member of The St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in St. Marys. She and her husband, Charles, both worked 35 years at the Goodyear Plant in St. Marys; Betty was a secretary for the sales department and always said she adored her job and all the people she worked with throughout the years.

She loved to travel, meet new people and visit with long-time friends. Betty cherished music, loved to dance, and was the oldest member of the Elvis Jr. Fan Club. She loved to go to Bearcreek Farms to listen to any of the Lawrence Welk singers that came to play there. Her family took her on a ‘dream trip’ in 2006 to Branson , Missouri , where she attended the annual Lawrence Welk Reunion Show. She loved her family and didn’t miss a single arts performance involving her granddaughter, Sherrie. She attended every Sock & Buskin Community Theatre show, Gateway Arts Council event and one of her last outdoor activities, attending two of the summer concerts by the Sidney Civic Band. Betty never met a stranger and always had a gracious smile on her face; she was called an angel by those she touched in her life, and will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Funeral rites will be held 2:00 P.M. Friday, April 8, 2011, at the Miller-Long and Folk Funeral Home, 314 West High Street, Saint Marys, Ohio, the Reverend Ed Bray, officiant. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery.  Friends may call from noon until the time of services at the funeral home on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Grand Lake Hospice.