Obituary of Betty L. Geesa

Betty was born October 16, 1928 in Eureka, Kansas to Samuel B. Francis and Mary Deverick Francis. She died November 18, 2013 at Sterling House in Port Charlotte, Florida. She was raised by a great Uncle and Aunt, Joseph Roscoe and Letha Chapman Deverick. She married Kenneth H. Cribelar on June 28, 1947 at the home of Roscoe Deverick in Hoguetown, Illinois. He died January 18, 1984. She later married Lee Geesa who died May 13, 2002. Betty graduated from Casey High School, Casey, IL with the class of 1945. She attended the University of Illinois and then returned to work as a bookkeeper with the Casey National Bank. She retired from banking after 39 years as assistant vice president. She was then appointed as city treasurer in 1985 and later elected to that same position, which she retired from in 1991. She served as the City of Casey alderman for Ward III from 1971 to 1982 where she was involved in the erection of the current city hall. She also did the daily morning news on WKZI radio in Casey for a period of time. She was a member of the Casey Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Casey, IL where she served as teacher, elder, song leader, and stated clerk of Foster Presbytery of the Illinois Synod. She also served on the Board of Missions in Memphis, TN. She was a 50 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star #79, Casey Women of the Moose (Chapter 814), Kentucky Colonel, and American Legion Auxiliary Unit #103 of Punta Gorda, FL. She was a volunteer at Tidewell Hospice House in Port Charlotte. Survivors include her daughter, Katherine (Michael) Noble of Punta Gorda, FL; 2 grandchildren, Adrienne Halsey of Las Vegas, NV and Matthew (Marcy) Noble of Mackinaw, IL; 6 great-grandchildren, Sydney, Alyssa, and Ian Halsey and Mason, Mara and Emma Noble; brother, Bobby J. Francis of Marshall, IL; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, foster parents, Roscoe and Letha Deverick, foster brother, Eugene Deverick, and foster sister, Pauline Applegate. The family will receive friends from 3-4:00PM on Friday, November 22, 2013 at Paul Schelm Funeral Home, 12687 SW County Road 769 (Kings Highway) in Lake Suzy. A Funeral Service will be held at 4:00PM at the funeral home. Please visit Betty's tribute wall at www.schelmfh.com to share memories and to send condolences to the Geesa family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tidewell Hospice of Southwest Florida, Philanthropy Department, 5955 Rand Boulevard, Sarasota, FL 34238 or Punta Gorda Alliance Church General Fund, 7500 Florida Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950. Arrangements by Paul Schelm Funeral Home in Lake Suzy. Phone (941) 625-3535.