BETTY O. ENGRAM
Betty Louise Odum Engram passed away peacefully at her home in Johnston City on Tuesday, July 1, 2014. She left this life as she had lived it - with kindness, dignity, grace, and beauty. Her daughters and caregivers were by her side.
Betty was born March 26, 1926 to Lawrence and Ruth Odum in Marion, Illinois. She grew up in Johnston City, the family home, and married William Gilbert Engram, her high school sweetheart, on January 6, 1945. She spent much of her life serving the community and First Baptist Church of Johnston City in numerous capacities, but particularly as financial secretary and treasurer, and Sunday School and Bible School teacher for the Church. Betty was also an active member of Beta Sigma Phi and the Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO).
Mrs. Engram was a secretary, bookkeeper, and floor manager for the U.S. Government during WWII at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, Il.; a legal secretary for Charles Winters in Marion, Il.; a banker for the First National Bank of Johnston City, Il.; and a wife, mother, and homemaker throughout her adult life until her retirement in 1982.
Along with her husband, Gilbert, she was always known to give freely of her time, expertise, and personal resources. As a breast cancer survivor, Betty worked as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society to lend her support and encouragement to other women in hospitals undergoing similar cancer procedures. She gave compassionately and often anonymously to those less fortunate than herself, and she was always concerned that everyone feel comfortable, competent, and important in her presence. Betty's intellect, wit, and charm were hallmarks of her personality. These qualities made her a good friend and confidant - and she had many wonderful friends. Although seemingly unaware of her physical beauty, Betty worked hard to polish the remarkable qualities of her inner beauty. She was a devoted mother and wife who worked tirelessly to improve the qualities of her children's lives, and she was their beautiful, shining light. Betty was a very spiritual and Christian woman with an abiding love for God and a profound faith in God's wisdom and compassion. Her long enriched life exemplified those qualities of her inner beauty - kindness, courage, compassion, and grace. By her living example, she taught on-coming generations how to be.
Betty is survived by her daughters, Melinda Engram La Garce of Carbondale, and Cynthia Engram Meyers and son-in-law Robert "Bob" Meyers of Fairview, Texas; five grandchildren, Christopher La Garce, Cassandra "Casey" Meyers, Jesse Meyers, Heather Engram Vogenpohl, and Brooke Engram Vogenpohl; brother-in-law, Tom Engram of Carbondale, sisters-in-law Betty Engram Lee of Carbondale, and Barbara Engram Maroscher and brother-in-law Gus Maroscher of Marion, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty years, William Gilbert Engram, and her son, William David Engram of Johnston City; all her siblings, Carter Odum of Arthur, Maxine Odum Grant of Marion, Horace Odum of Johnston City, Amanda Odum Heil of Johnston City, and Robert "Bob" Odum of Garland, Texas; brother-in-law, Eugene Engram and sisters-in-law Jane Engram Moake and Janet Engram of Johnston City, and Betty Howard Engram of Carbondale.
Visitation will be 5 to 8p.m. Saturday, July 5, 2014 at Murman and Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City. Services will be Sunday, July 6, 2014 at 2p.m. in the funeral home with Pastor Robert Dickerson officiating. Burial will follow immediately at Lakeview Cemetery in Johnston City.
Memorials may be made to SIH Foundation – Cancer Treatment and Research Center of Southern Illinois or Hospice of Southern Illinois. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
May God bless the soul of Betty Louise Odum Engram. She was a good, kind, courageous, and compassionate woman, full of grace and beauty.