Betty Lou (Smith) Lee

Betty Lou Lee (Smith), age 89, of East Peoria, IL, formerly of Belleville, IL passed away on Friday, November 4, 2022 at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, IL. Betty went to be with the Lord and reunite with her husband after succumbing to heart complications. Betty realized an extraordinary peace in her final hours and regaled the hospital staff and family with many stories spanning 89 years.

Betty was born on March 4, 1933 in East St. Louis, IL to Clyde and Bonnie (Sutton) Smith.  She was a 1951 graduate of East St. Louis High School and held various positions ending her career at the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Betty was a member of the St. Matthew United Methodist Church where she actively served preparing meals, supporting the youth and missions programs, as a member of the chancel choir, and many other church activities.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Bonnie Smith and her beloved husband, Clarence Robert "Bob" Lee. Betty and Bob were childhood sweethearts and were married over 30 years. They shared many activities supporting Shriners Hospital for Children through the Ainad Shriners Krazy Klowns (Temple 130 - East Saint Louis), active in the Scottish Rite as a Freemason and Betty in Job's Daughters. Betty also served in many positions in the Ainad Belles and Wednesday Club women's community groups.

Betty's talents were many as an accomplished seamstress winning multiple IL State Fair awards, a dedicated cook for 20 plus years of church meals, a loved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her daughter, Michael and Cynthia (Lee) Brockmeier and three grandchildren, Brandy, Mikey, and Tabitha Ripetto, and three great-grandchildren and her son, Christopher and Lisa Lee and three grandchildren, Nathan, Nicolas, and Alison (Lee) Vaughan.

The family would like to express our sincere thanks for the wonderful care provided over the past 15 years by the Cambridge House of Swansea staff, and most recently by the Accolade Healthcare of East Peoria staff, the OSF ICU in Peoria, and the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home teams making her final days comfortable.

Cremation rites have been accorded. The family has decided to hold a private service with burial of ashes in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Belleville, IL next to her husband but wishes to thank her many friends who she has loved and have loved on her over the years. Thank you for being a part of her story. Online condolences at www.masonfuneralhomes.com.