Betty M. (Slagle) Coleman, 84, a former resident of Carriage Green Apts, Plymouth, died of natural causes at 5:02 a.m. Monday morning in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Plymouth. She lived in Marshall County almost 70 years, coming from Valparaiso.
Betty was born the daughter of Harry and Ida Mae (Horak) Slagle in Valparaiso, Ind. on December 18, 1923 and attended Valparaiso High School.
On February 12, 1944, in Huntsville, Ala., Betty and LeRoy A. Coleman were married. LeRoy died on March 13, 1972.
Betty worked as a torque tube cutter for Hehr International for 17 years, retiring in 1987.
She enjoyed playing Bingo and euchre. She collected ceramic pigs and was adept at working crossword puzzles.
Through the years, Betty became “Nana” to the many, many children that she babysat. Even recently, on occasion, little ones would come to stay with her. Derrick Beatty especially loved staying at “Nana’s.” He was a terrific help to her as she got older and wasn’t able to get around very well.
She also enjoyed her police scanner and playing “detective.” She was the very first tenant to rent an apartment at Carriage Green and although she just recently changed addresses, the children there really enjoyed stopping by to help her out.
Betty is survived by two daughters and a son. They are Deborah (Les) Booker of Bremen and Dorothy (Jon) Hawkins, of Plymouth, and Charles “Buck” Coleman and fiancée, Barb of LaPaz, Ind. Her grandchildren include: Angela Joseph, Chad Booker, Cory Hawkins, Shelle (Christian) Sepe, Tony Coleman, Tracy (Sheldon) O’Connor and Angie Beatty. Seventeen great-grandchildren survive as well.
Surviving as well are a brother, Frank (Eunice) Slagle and a sister, Ida Mae Montague, both of Valparaiso, with several nephews and nieces and many dear friends and former neighbors who will miss her.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sons, Doug and Dennis, a daughter, Charlene, brothers; Harry, Ray and Richard Slagle and sisters; Eva Robinson, Mary Zacharis and Ruth Donley.
Friends are invited to celebrate the life of Betty Coleman on Wednesday, October 22nd from 4 – 8 p.m. EDT in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St. Plymouth and continue after 7 a.m. on Thursday until time of services at 11 a.m. EDT. The Reverends Bob Rice and James Archambeault will officiate. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. EDT in the Oak Grove Cemetery located west of LaCrosse, Indiana on County Road 1100.
Memorial gifts may be made to the St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital or the Marshall County Humane Society.
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