Death of Betty Colleen Weakley
November 5, 1928 –May 9, 2015
Betty Colleen (Collard) Weakley, 86, of Berrien Springs, passed away at her home on Saturday, May 9, 2015.
She was born on November 5, 1928 in Berrien Springs to Glenn J. and Mary H. E. (Kilpatrick) Collard. Betty grew up with her brother, Robert “Bob”, and sister, Kathryn Joyce “Babe”, in a house that their father built on the northwest corner of Garr and Snow Roads. At the age of four, Betty begged to go to school with her brother and sister at Burke School, so her mother decided to let her attend. The teacher would let Betty sit on her lap during classes. Burke School was a one-room school that was across the road from their home. After finishing elementary school, Betty attended Emmanuel Missionary College Academy, now Andrews Academy. During her academy years Betty learned to play one of her favorite musical instruments, the saxophone. She continued to play the instrument throughout her life. Betty graduated from Emmanuel Missionary College in 1949, with an Associate degree in Secretarial Science.
In the early years she worked as the Administrative Secretary for the Vice-President of Kellogg's Company in Battle Creek, Michigan. After her children had begun grade school, she became the Administrative Assistant for Continental Specialty Advertising and Sporting Goods Company in Berrien Springs. On May 12, 1949, Betty married John Edward Weakley on the national radio show “Bride and Groom” in Hollywood, California. During their early married years, John and Betty lived in a number of places including: an apartment in Battle Creek, a small house on the southwest corner of Garr and Snow Roads, and a house on Main Street in Berrien Springs. In 1955 John began building a new house one mile west of Berrien Springs on Snow Road in his spare time. They moved into the new house in 1957 and lived there for the next 41 years. In 1998 they moved to their current home on Lake Chapin Bluff.
John and Betty are survived by their three children: Michael Glenn (Alice) Weakley of Ottawa, IL, Jon Todd (Linda) Weakley of Berrien Springs, and Tamara Kay (Don) Jardine of Berrien Springs; seven grandchildren and two great-grandsons. She was a fabulous cook, and enjoyed camping, swimming, gardening, playing games and spending time with her family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, May 15, at Pioneer Memorial Church, where Betty was a member. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to ADRA-Nepal, Your Story Hour, Amazing Facts, or It Is Written. Allred Funeral Home, Berrien Springs, is serving the family, and online messages may be left at www.allredfuneralhome.com.
