Betty J. Hitchcock

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Betty J. Hitchcock, 85, Carrier Mills, died 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, 2010, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

She was born Nov. 15, 1924, in Galatia to Tom Fowler and Eliza Taylor Fowler. She married Wayne Hitchcock on June 18, 1959, and he preceded her in death on Oct. 24, 2005.

She is survived by a daughter, Terry Lee and husband Terry Elms of Ozark; a sister, Virginia Widick of Eldorado; she is also survived by aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends; a grandchild, Eliza (David) Hill of Vienna; three stepgrandchildren, Shane (Kara) Elms of Simpson, Abby (Jeff) Henshaw of Paducah, Ky. and Justin Elms of Nashville; two great-grandchildren, Reagan Hill and Dawson Hill; and seven great-stepgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; eight sisters, Elene, Julia, Monette, Eula, Evelyn, Jan, Marge and Nell; and four brothers, John, Gene, Terry and Billy.

Graveside services will precede burial 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at the Salem Cemetery in Carrier Mills with the Rev. Jared Mitchell officiating. Those attending should meet at the cemetery prior to service time.

The family prefers flowers be omitted. For those who desire, memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Envelopes will be available at the service. Absher-Nicholson Funeral Home in Carrier Mills is entrusted with the arrangements.