Betty Mccormick

Obituary for Betty Anne Mc CormickIt was Monday, April 8 2013 after her evening meal nap that Betty Anne McCormick passed away in her sleep. Services for the celebration of her life will be Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the Goodwin Funeral home in Vincennes with the showing at 12 pm- 2 pm. Service will start at 2 pm followed by her burial next to her husband at the Derr Cemetery in Pinkstaff, Ill. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Knox County Humane Society, The Grouseland Foundation, Tri Kappa. or the Francis Vigo Chapter of DAR.Born April 16, 1920 to Dr. E.F. Small and Ethel M. (Lane) Small (Grandparents Daniel and Estelle Small) in the small rural town of Decker, Indiana. She grew up and attended school there until her father moved her family to Vincennes in 1935 when she was 15. She established herself at Vincennes's Lincoln H.S. where she graduated in 1938, After graduating Indiana University in 1942 with a BA in English and Drama and serving as a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority, she returned to Lincoln H.S. to become one of the first single woman hired to teach later that fall, breaking the prior policy that female staff were required to be married. However it wasn't long until she became engaged to Robert S. McCormick. Though "Bob and Betty" had graduated the in the same class at both Lincoln H.S. and Indiana University, it was through the close friendship of Bob's uncle Dr. Hugh McCormick and Betty's Dad, Dr. Small that they became acquainted. Dr. McCormick and his brother, Bob's dad, all living within a blocks of First Methodist Church at 4th street and Hart Street, Betty and her father would visit his dear friend after services, thus initiating her in the neighborhood Sunday gang where she met her future husband when she was only 6 years old.Shortly after Bob graduated and was commissioned an officer in the US Navy Reserve, Betty married her high school sweetheart on January 28, 1943 at the age of 22. Next thing this "small-farming-town" couple knew, they were residing in Newport, Rhode Island while Bob went to Motor Torpedo Boat School. But their adventures were far from over as they spent a few months and their "Honey Moon" in New Orleans, courtesy of the US Navy for more training. Next, it was off to New York City where Betty was an attendant to Mrs. Arthur A. Osborn (Miss. Harriet V. Kimmel) in the official commissioning ceremonies of the USS Vincennes (CL 64). Later they came back to New York for a month for the official commissioning ceremonies of her husband's PT squadron at the New York Yacht Club. Their tour ended in Miami FL where Bob and Betty lived at the Fontainebleau, a former resort hotel, provided for PT boat squadrons as they did their final training before being shipped off to the war.While Bob and his squadron were sent to England and then France to participate in the Normandy Invasion, Betty moved back in with her parents in Vincennes and like wives and parents all over the country, worriedly awaited the outcome of the events. Though the boat Bob commanded was shot at and hit by Nazi forces, he survived and returned home safe. Betty and Bob moved back to Newport one more time as he began his job as navigator on a ship preparing to invade Japan. For the good of all, the war soon ended. At last, at the age of 25, Betty and Bob made their final residence back in their hometown of Vincennes where they raised their two sons and two daughters. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Girl Scout Leader, and taught English for a while at Monroe City High School. Her affiliation with the church continued to make her one of the oldest continuously active members of First United Methodist Church. She involved herself in many community organizations including being an active member of the Francis Vigo Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a lifelong sustaining member of Tri Kappa Gamma Zeta of Vincennes and the Vincennes Fortnightly Club to enjoy her love for art, history, literature and theater. Surviving her late husband by 9 years after 61 years of marriage, she spent the last two and a half years in the caring and capable hands of the wonderful people and with her friends at Colonial Assisted Living Community in Vincennes. Betty is survived by not only her four children but 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Her children are: Bryan D. McCormick (Beth) of Indianapolis, Indiana; Sue Ellen (McCormick) Sare of Denver, Colorado; Mark R. McCormick (Jennifer) of Los Angeles, California; and Anne Marie (McCormick) Schiering of San Diego, California. Grandchildren: Mary E. (Sare) James; John McCormick Sare; and Julia M. Sare of Denver; Grace S. McCormick of Indianapolis; Robert S. McCormick of Los Angeles; Gabriel Schiering and Andrew Schiering of San Diego. Great Grandchildren: Maisy S. James and Lillian E. James of Denver. All of us, including her many loving nieces, nephews, their spouses and children and other friends and family members, will miss her greatly and recognize what an honor it was to know her love.