Elizabeth "Betty" (Corney) Speare

Elizabeth “Betty” Blair (Corney) Speare of Canton, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at the age of 89.

Born on May 11, 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Arthur & Phoebe (Tyler) Corney of Anna Maria Island, Florida. Her family relocated to Maplewood, New Jersey where she grew up and was a devoted alumna of Columbia High School and Duke University. She was also a proud member of Mensa.

After graduating from college, Betty and her first husband Don initially settled in Des Moines, IA (where their first child, Rob was born), then on to Overland Park, KS (where their first daughter, Nancy was born), then on to Windsor, CT (where their second daughter, Carolyn was born), then settling in Clinton, CT with her second husband, Andy until finally moving on to her happy place of Anna Maria Island (AMI), FLA.

Betty enjoyed taking walks along the beach of AMI, collecting sea glass, seashells and assorted treasures. She had a creative and artistic mind and could always be found reading historical fiction books or the latest New Yorker Magazine, doodling in her sketchbooks, or sitting at her sewing machine mending well-loved clothing. She loved baking, especially preparing her famous English muffin bread for the Anna Maria Island Historical Society.

Beloved wife of the late Sceva (Andy) Speare. Loving mother of Robert Kreps & his wife Nancy of Longmont, CO; Nancy Ealy & her husband Deke of Charlottesville, VA; and Carolyn Ball & her husband Kevin of Walpole, MA. Cherished “Betty Grandma” for Robert Kreps and his wife Trish and Jennifer Kreps; Tyler and Sean Ealy; Emily, Casey, and Sarah Ball. She was eagerly anticipating the arrival of her first great-grandson, of Robert and Trish Kreps, this fall. Devoted sister of Dr. Robert T. Corney and his wife Libby of Nashville, TN and their children, her niece Susan and nephew Bob and his wife Shannon. Predeceased by her first husband and loving father of her children, Donald Kreps.

Relatives & friends are invited to attend her Visiting Hours in the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole St., (Rt.1A) NORWOOD on Saturday, July 12, 2025 from 9:00-10:00 AM, immediately followed by a Memorial Service in the Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Knollwood Memorial Park, Canton. Friends are invited to wear blue in honor of Betty’s favorite color.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Betty's memory to the Anna Maria Island Historical Society in Anna Maria, Florida or the Ruth McLain Hospice Home in Braintree, Massachusetts where she received compassionate and peaceful care in her final days. The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to the staff of Cornerstone at Canton for the care and love they provided Betty for the past six years and all of the wonderful friends she made during her time there.

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