Betty Hiles

Betty Maxine Hiles went home to Jesus on April 19, 2023 at age 98.

Betty was born to Arthur Lee and Nellie Katherine Cook Avery on March 22, 1925 in Beardstown, IL. As a child, Betty loved to walk up and down the street selling her produce and milk out of her wagon. She also loved taking care of her little sister, Kay Ann.

Betty met her husband, William Richard “Dick” Hiles, at the skating rink and they were married on November 22, 1942. They went on to have many babies that are also home with Jesus before adopting their beloved children, Donald Lee Hiles and Deborah Jean Spoon. Betty was an Army wife and moved with Dick around the country until his discharge after World War II. When they moved back to Beardstown, Betty worked at the “Dime Store”. Eventually, Betty and her husband opened Hiles Outboard, and she helped him run the business until he preceded her in death in 1985.

In addition to being a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister, Betty was a lover of God above all else. Throughout her entire life, she held an unwavering faith in God, which she shared with those who surrounded her. Betty spent many years teaching Sunday School at the Community of Christ Church in Beardstown where she was a lifelong member. For nearly 20 years, Betty showed children about the love of God by helping her daughter Debbie’s daycare. “Grandma Betty”, as the kids called her, helped by driving kids to school, picking them up and helping with activities and lunches. Betty loved watching her grandchildren play sports and always had a special parking spot at the softball field! When it comes to sports though, nothing could top rooting on her Chicago Cubs!

Betty joins her parents, Arthur and Nellie Avery, her husband, Dick Hiles, her brother, Robert Avery, her babies and her great-granddaughter, Jaedyn Michelle in Heaven. She is survived by her son, Donald Hiles of Jacksonville, IL, daughter Debbie (Kevin) Spoon, of Rushville, IL, granddaughters Karissa (Andy) Ham of Buckeye, AZ, Taryn (companion Justin Rodriguez) Dunlap of Peoria, IL and Christina Lang, great grandchildren, Jazilyn (companion Creed Kersh) Ham, Travin Ham, Indeanna Ham and Bridgette Dunlap and sister, Kay Ann (Gordon) Sansom of Pleasant Hill, IL, her special boy Landon (companion Sammy Dunaway) Wink and several nieces and nephews.

Celebration of life will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2023 at Colwell Memorial Home in Beardstown. The burial will be in the Beardstown City Cemetery at a later date. The family will meet with friends from 4-6 P.M. Friday at the memorial home.

Memorials have been suggested to Colwell Memorial Home or Cass Schuyler Area Hospice. Condolences may be left online at www.colwellmemorialhome.com or on Facebook at Colwell Memorial Home.