ForeverMissed
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Her Life

Betty Harris Hillery

March 22, 2013

BETTY HARRIS HILLERY, DISTINGUISHED MUNCIE JOURNALIST AND BSU MBA COORDINATOR, PASSES AWAY

 

FEDERAL WAY, WA - Mary Elizabeth "Betty" (Clayton) Harris Hillery, 88, passed away in her sleep on Monday, March 18, 2013. Betty was born in St. Louis, MO on January 23, 1925, to James Roy and Mary Blanche (Harlan) Clayton, the oldest of five children. She married George Erland Harris on July 4, 1944, and had two children, Mary Margaret (Harris) Scott and George William "Bill" Harris, 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. In 1995, she married John H. Hillery and gained several step-children and grandchildren.

 

Betty graduated from Troy (Missouri) High School, received a Bachelors in Journalism from University of Missouri in 1946, and an M.A. in Journalism and Public Relations from Ball State University in 1975. She was member of Mt. Olive Methodist Church and High Street Methodist Church in Muncie.

 

Betty began her career as an editor for the Muncie Morning Star and then became a photographer and reporter for the Muncie Evening Press, where she worked from 1949-1973. In the late 1960's and 1970's, Betty was the author of Muncie Evening Press column  “Where the Bands Are,” interviewing many noted musicians and public figures in her work including The Beatles, Alice Cooper, Iron Butterfly and Jimmi Hendrix. From 1992-99, she wrote “Senior Scene” first for The Star and then for The Star Press.

 

Betty was also a freelance reporter with Universal Trade Press Syndicate NYC, and was the author or editor of many publications, including "The Role of Women on Indiana Newspapers 1876-1976" and "Diamond Heels Hattie: A Hoosier housewife in Peacock Alley. "

 

Betty worked at Ball State University for 11 years, as assistant to the associate dean of the College of Business, MBA coordinator, and coordinator of graduate enrollment. During her years at BSU she was instrumental in creating the MBA by television program. She was a member of Ball State/Area 6 Access Committee which founded Project Care and of the Ball State committee which founded Lifelong Learner.

 

Betty was an active member of the community and interested in local history. She and others opened a teen center in the late 1960’s called “The Cave”. She helped start the Delaware County Historical Festival and was a member of many more local organizations, holding offices in both local and state divisions of the National League of American Pen Women, and National Federation of Press Women. She won numerous awards for writing and photography from Woman’s Press Club of Indiana.  

 

Betty’s decades of givenness to her profession and community service earned a long list of distinguished awards. She received the Outstanding Service Award from the Huffer Day Care Auxiliary, was named humanitarian of Muncie by Beta Sigma Phi in 1967.  In 1978 the Woman’s Press Club of Indiana gave her the Kate Milner Rabb Award for continuing excellence and professional service in journalism. Betty was listed in the 1985 edition of  Who’s Who of American Women. Women in Communications (1988) granted her the Women of Achievement Award; “Area 6 Older Hoosier of the Year” in 1994; Independence in the Media Distinguished Service Award from Community and Senior Services of Indiana (1995); Indiana Health Care Association Media Award for her column called “Senior Scene” and for feature stories relating to community health (1997); the Kirkpatrick Gerontology Award for achievement in service to senior citizens from Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology (1999); Indian Media Award for her Senior Scene Column (1999); the Muncie/Delaware County Coalition of Women’s Organizations Vivian Conley Award in Journalism (2001) and was chosen as one of Indiana’s outstanding Older Hoosier Volunteers by the Indiana Division of Aging in 2006.

 

Besides high professional achievement, Betty was extremely dedicated to all the members of her family. She is survived by her sister Delroy (Clayton) McKinney of Frankfort, IN, daughter Mary Margaret (husband Jon) Scott of Federal Way, WA, son George William "Bill" (wife Rhonda) Harris, of Charlotte, NC, sister-in-law Virginia Johnson Callaway of Anderson, IN, grandchildren Mary Andrea, David, Joel, Nathan, Cora and Emma, great-grandchildren, Maria Gabrielle, Zoe Elisabeth, Maia, and Ian, step-children, as well as step-grandchildren Michael Miller, Joyce Conyers, Cindy Dub, Therese Benton, David Hillery, Becky Reese, nieces and nephews.

 

She is preceded in death by her husband of 46 years George Erland Harris on March 17, 1991, by her husband of 15 years John H. Hillery on January 22, 2010, by her sisters Dorothy Cox, Wentzville, MO, and Gail Gabbert, Rochester, NY, and brother Rick Clayton (MO).

 

Viewing will be held Thursday, March 28, 2013, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Meeks Mortuary 415 E. Washington Street,
Muncie, IN 47305.

 

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, March 29, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. at Meeks Mortuary. Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory Cemetery.

 

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the loving and caring staff at the Virginia Callaway Wellness Center in Anderson, IN, and the Evergreen Park Adult Family Home in Federal Way, WA.

 

Memorials may be directed to the George Erland & Betty Harris Memorial Scholarship at Ball State University or the Memorial Gardens Project at her most recent church home Living Hope Nazarene, 20107 S. 1st Ave, Normandy Park, WA 98198.