Betty Carroll Madden-Work

She was born in Chicago, the daughter of Jerome Cook Isenbarger and Florence Hoover Isenbarger. Her first marriage in 1938 ended in divorce in 1960. In 1963, she married Wilbur F. Madden who died in 1965. In 1982, she married J. Robert Work, who died in 1997.

Betty was a graduate of the University of Illinois School of Fine Arts and lived in Springfield from 1947 until 2004, when she moved to Traverse City.

She was employed as a commercial artist by Consolidated Book Publishers in Chicago; for Evans, Work and Costa Advertising Agency and S.A. Barker, both in Springfield. In 1960, she joined the staff of Illinois State Museum, where she became a Curator of Art, retiring in 1977.

At the Museum, she was a pioneer in the research of Illinois artists and craftsmen, traveling thousands of miles in the state and giving more than 170 lectures. Her book, "Arts, Crafts and Architecture in Early Illinois," was published by the University of Illinois Press, winning an Award of Merit from the Illinois State Historical Society and a Non-Fiction Award from the Friends of Literature in Chicago. Her book is still used as a reference by scholars. In 1975, she was awarded "Woman of the Year" by the University of Illinois Alumni Association.

Betty served as a board member of the State Historical Society and as advisor to the Illinois Arts Council, the Sangamon State University film series, and the Macon County Historical Museum. She was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and an Honorary Member of Delta Kappa Lambda International professional education sorority.

A recognized artist, Betty served on the board of SCADA Old Capitol Art Fair and received the SCADA Pacesetter Award in the Arts in 1963. She exhibited in a number of one- and two-person shows, and her paintings are in many public and private collections. She was listed in "Who's Who in American Art"; was a signature member of the Midwest Watercolor Society; a member of Prairie Art Alliance; and the Sangamon Watercolor Society.

She was preceded in death by a son, Don Allan Carroll; a step-daughter, Susan Madden Sinnock; and a step-grandson, J.D. Sinnock.

Surviving is a son, Dennis Bruce Carroll (Peggy) of Ann Arbor; two granddaughters, Anne Carroll (John McConnell) and Laura Carroll Nagy (Michael); and a step-grandson, Hank Sinnock (Yiting). Also surviving are four great-grandchildren, Jack Thomas Archer, Eleanor Rose Nagy, Morgan Madden Sinnock and Kayla Gretchen Sinnock.

Friends may call Friday March 28, 2008 at Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel from Noon until the time of services there at 1:00 PM with Rev. Berkley Moore officiating. Interment will be in Camp Butler National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Betty's memory may be made to Munson Hospice House, 450 Brook Street, Traverse City, MI 49684; or the Springfield Art Association, 700 North Fourth Street, Springfield, IL 62702.