Obituary: Betty M. Stricklin

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Betty M. Stricklin, 88, passed away at 10 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 22, 2011, at the Fountain View Nursing Home in Eldorado.

Betty was the daughter of Roscoe and Elvira Metcalf of Harrisburg, born on Oct. 20, 1922. She graduated from Harrisburg Township High School in 1940 and attended Southern Illinois University. Betty had a passion for photography and worked with her father in the photography business until she married Merrill E. Stricklin in 1952. Together, they owned and operated Strickiln Studios in Eldorado. She lived on Raleigh Road for many years before her move to Fountainview Nursing Home in February 2010. During her years at home, she was favored by special neighbors, the Simachs, the Vessells and the Seelys. Betty had a passion for knitting and crocheting. She was a faithful member and Sunday School teacher at the First Baptist Church of Eldorado before becoming homebound.

Betty is survived by two nieces, Linda (Jerald) Sims of Harrisburg and Cathy (Ted) Cunningham of Pinckneyville; great-nephew, Marc (Carolyn) DeVar of Chicago; two great-nieces, Lindsey DeVar of Chicago and Julie (Don) Wilder of Pinckneyville; great-great-nephew, William Taylor DeVar; and many caregivers at Fountainview.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Merrill; her parents; a sister, Jane; parents-in-law, Quincy and Pearl Stricklin; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Betty and John Taylor; and great-niece, Kristin Cunningham.

A graveside service will be held for Betty Stricklin at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at the Wolf Creek Cemetery, with Art Foster officiating. At her request, Betty was cremated. Memorials may be given in her name to the Fountain View Nursing Home Activities Department. Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado is in charge of local arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent at the Internet site www.watsonfuneralhome.net