Born April 24, 1937 in Poughkeepsie, New York to William Amos Lovekin Parke and Marion Elizabeth (Nyborg) Parke, she married Junior Neal Scurlock on April 1, 1956 in Pekin. She later married Richard Dean Hornback on July 28, 1984 in Pekin. He died December 8, 2015 in Peoria. She also was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Peter Alan.
Surviving are three daughters, Cathy L. (Ralph) Brown of Springfield, Rebecca Anne Scurlock Gould of Cerrillos, New Mexico and Sheila Sue (Patrick) Scurlock Miller of Pekin; one son, Robert Neal (Valerie) Scurlock of North Pekin; nine grandchildren, Shawna (Todd) Neihoff, Ronald Harris, Nicole (Josh) Rakes, Jesse Starry, Alan Tribe, Jayce Parrish, Gabriel Scurlock, Troy Scurlock and Kaylee Scurlock; great-grandchildren, Michael Davis, Samantha Davis, Alexandra Headley, Brantley Rakes and Elayna Rakes, and three great-great grandchildren, Aubrii Headley, Romeo Headley and Arianna Headley; one sister, Nancy Jane (Ernest) Finney of California and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Betty was a 1993 graduate of Sangamon State University in Springfield with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. She earned her Master of Arts Degree in Human Development Counseling from the University of Illinois at Springfield in 1997.
Betty previously worked in medical office work for Methodist Medical Center in Peoria, Neurological Associates in Peoria and then as the office manager/secretary for Arcadia Presbyterian Church in Peoria. In 1986, Betty became aware of a licensed ministry preparation program to train to be licensed for ministry in the United Church of Christ. Betty was the first candidate to enter this program in the Western Association in the Illinois Conference and became licensed on May 3, 1988. She was ordained to Christian Ministry in the United Church of Christ on June 8, 2001. Betty faithfully served congregations in Beardstown, Galesburg, Pekin, Paxton, Kewanee, Champaign, Mazon, Marseilles and Chillicothe. Betty’s spiritual walk began in New Knoxville, Ohio at the Evangelical & Reformed Church, where she grew up and was confirmed. Betty’s gifts for ministry were recognized not only in the local churches she served, but also by the denomination. In 1999, Betty was one of three laywomen honored at the United Church of Christ's General Synod in Providence, Rhode Island, for outstanding contributions to women's leadership development; and, closer to home, Betty was honored in 2016 with the Chalice Award recognizing her leadership and countless contributions to the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Betty’s interests included genealogy, writing and reading light mysteries. She loved her family and was passionate about attending family activities. She was a special grand mother to her grandkids and three granddaughters were named after her as well as one daughter. She also loved traveling, especially to Meriden Connecticut, where she lived as a young child. Her Swedish grandparents came to America, settling and building their home in Meriden. She also was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution on the Parke side.
She was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Pekin.
Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 15, 2021 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. The Rev. Jon Prain will officiate. The funeral will be live streamed on the Preston-Hanley Facebook page. Visitation will be held from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Guidelines regarding social distancing and the wearing of masks will be followed. Cremation will be accorded following the funeral. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, February 26, 2021 at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield. Pastor Judy Steger Kennedy will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Western Association of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, 617 North First Street, DeKalb, Illinois 60115.
To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com
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