Betty J. Garcia

Betty Jean Garcia, age 91, of Jackson Spring, NC, born on August 6, 1927 in East St. Louis, IL died on November, 11, 2018.

Betty was a proud and devoted wife, mother and grandma. Mom and dad enjoyed traveling, playing golf and entertaining with family and friends. She was a devoted Catholic and attended Holy Angels School and St. Teresa’s Academy. In the late 60’s, the family moved from East St. Louis, Illinois to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the earlier 80’s, mom and dad designed and built their retirement home in Pinehurst, North Carolina. She was a proud member Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinehurst, over the last 37 years. She enjoyed golf and loved spending time in her yard working, especially with her longtime nemesis and friend - her beloved Magnolia Tree.

Betty Jean was preceded in death by her husband Manuel Garcia; and her parents, John Leezy and Alice, nee Hormel (James) Thompson, Brothers John and Robert Leezy. Members of the Garcia family, Ted and Doris Garcia, Joseph Garcia, Robert Hesse, Harold Bedwell, Eleanor Garcia, Curtis Hesse and David D. Bedwell.

Betty Jean is survived by her children, Kathleen Watkins of Pinehurst, NC, Carol Drake of Magnolia, TX and Teresa “Tisa” (Richard) Lynn of Lexington, SC; her grandchildren, Jennifer Watkins, John (Ashley) Watkins, Anson (Kimberly) Drake, Ashley Drake, Matthew Lynn, Melissa (Robert) Hanson, Steve Drake, and Freddie Drake; and great-grandchildren, Christian, Quinten, Forrest, Brenden, Justin, Kaylee, Haleigh and Wesley. Sister in Law, Virginia Leezy. Members of the Garcia Family, Olga (Henry) Davis, Louis Garcia, Anna Hesse, Geraldine Bedwell, Barbara Garcia, their families, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, additional family members and friends, too many to mention.  

Memorials may be made to the research for Choroideremia (a rare retinal disorder) at www.curechm.org or contact an immediate family member for further instructions to donate to the research foundation.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Kassly Mortuary, Ltd, Fairview Heights, IL.

Funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Kassly Mortuary, Ltd.  Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Fairview Heights, IL.  

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