Betty Kay Fitzgerald

Betty Kay Fitzgerald was born on April 27th, 1939, and passed away on Friday July 25th 2025, at the age of 86. She died at her family home she helped build and lived in since 1973, due to complications from a bad fall. Betty was born in Powersville Missouri and lived on the family farm until age 7 when she moved to Rockford Il. She graduated from West High School in 1957 and was very proud of the school’s back-to-back state championship titles in basketball. Betty worked various jobs but one of her favorites was being a car hop on roller skates. Her main career though for 36 years was working in shipping and inventory control for the Amerock corporation, which some believe to be the first U.S. manufacturing company to concentrate solely on the production of cabinet hardware. Shortly after high school Betty met the love of her life, her late husband Floyd “Tom” Fitzgerald who she was married to for 56 years. Betty enjoyed entertaining and hosting family occasions and holidays. She especially loved summers and all the pool parties over the years. Although she would drive her family nuts by never sitting down to enjoy the party herself! What Betty enjoyed the most though was spending time together with her and Tom’s two children, and six grandkids. Besides her family, Betty loved her friends also known as “The West End Gang”, and anything Elvis Presley related. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and she believed that you could never have to many Santas. Betty and the family would also like to thank all her special neighbors who have been such a huge help after the passing of Tom.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Thomas Fitzgerald; parents, Donald and Wilma Pumphrey; brother, Donnie Pumphrey.

Betty is survived by her two children Kimberly (Russ) Fitzgerald Madeen and Jacob (Jacolyn) Fitzgerald. Grandchildren, Chase Madeen, Tanner Madeen, Whitney (Josh) Madeen, Parker (Carly) Madeen, Casey Madeen, Reese Fitzgerald. Sister, Patricia (Frank) Hall; Brother, Jim Pumphrey, and lastly her cat Little Pill who she loved for 13 years.

The visitation will be held on August 9th at Sunset Memorial from 9:30-11:30, service from 11:30-12:15, with committal service following. In lieu of flowers, memorials can made in Betty’s honor to the Greg Lindmark Foundation | First Responder Support Program.