Betty Jarrett Hasty

Betty Hasty

ST. JOSEPH — Betty Jarrett Hasty, 84, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 26, 2018, at Illini Heritage in Champaign. She was lost to Alzheimer's.

She was born in Tolono, to Raymond and Ruth (Boston) Merritt. She was the youngest of four children. Her siblings included her two brothers, Elmer Merritt of Waukesha, Wis., and Glen Merritt of St. Joseph; and sister, Esther Elarde of San Diego.

She married Ted R. Jarrett, on March 3, 1952, and later married Russell Hasty Jr. on Feb. 14, 1981. They all have preceded her in death.

She is survived by her son, K. Bruce (Peggy) Jarrett of Lapel, Ind.; daughter, Gayle (Mark) Jarrett Jannusch of St. Joseph; grandson, Kyle Jannusch of Villa Grove, Kerry Jannusch of Champaign and Tracy (Wes) Jarrett Miller of Muncie, Ind.

Betty grew up in St. Joseph along the banks of the Salt Fork, playing with all the animals, cats, dogs and chickens, and she even rode the cows. From her farm roots, she gained her love for being outdoors, had pets all of her life and was quite the avid gardener.

She graduated from St. Joseph High School and held a variety of jobs throughout her life. In the early '60s, she and Ted ran Jarrett Plumbing and Heating in St. Joseph. She was not afraid of hard work or getting her hands dirty. She really enjoyed working with the Music Camp at the University of Illinois in the summers.

She retired to California to be with her beloved sister Esther. They had many adventures as two farm girls explored southern California. She was a volunteer for the local theater and the senior center. She loved it when her kids came to visit. All the funs things to do: Disneyland, Sea World, the zoo, Legoland, but the best part for her was just spending time with her loved ones.

She moved back to St. Joseph to be close to her family. She loved her grandkids very much. She didn’t care what they did together, camping, boating, picnics or family gatherings, just spending time with them made her happy. She was so proud of each of them. When she wasn’t reading, playing with her dog or spending time with friends, she had many hobbies: sewing, painting, ceramics, antiques, and she was always crafting something out of household products.

She became a 50-year member of the Eastern Star of Champaign in 2011, and over the years, she served in several functions including Worthy Matron in 1966. She was also a member of the St. Joseph United Methodist Church.

The family expresses their appreciation for the care she received at Illini Heritage and the compassion of the team at Harbor Lights Hospice.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to either Illini Heritage or the Champaign County Humane Society in care of Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand, St. Joseph, IL 61873.

A celebration of life will be from 11 a.m. to noon Friday, July 13, 2018, at Freese Funeral Home in St. Joseph. A memorial service will be at noon, with Pastor Gene Turner presiding. A family graveside service and inurnment will be held at a later date.