Betty McCarty

Betty McCarty, 98, of Brentwood, Missouri passed away on August 19, 2017 in Chesterfield, MO.

She was born on July 28, 1919, in Arcola, Illinois as Elizabeth Watson Cox, and was preceded in death by her father Edmund E. Cox and Thelma (Watson) Cox. She is survived by her son Doug Mullikin and his wife Georgia, and grandson Eric Mullikin of St. Louis, Missouri, her granddaughter, Carey Portzline and her husband Scott, and Carey’s children Evan and Otto Portzline of Portland, Oregon.

A graveside service for family and friends will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, September 7, 2017 at the Arcola Cemetery. The Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Betty graduated from Arcola High School class of 1937.  After graduation, she married Mason Mullikin (also from Arcola). She began a lengthy business career assisting prominent Arcolan’s as a “Doctor’s assistant” for Dr. E. S. Allen and later as Office Manager and claims adjustor for Barricklow Insurance Agency. Betty’s favorite hobbies during those early years included cards, bowling, and playing for the Arcola Kahawks(Jayhawks) girls softball team. She also enjoyed being a “Charter Member” of the Bob & Betty Arrol Drug Store Coffee Club.

Her later marriage to Dean McCarty (now deceased) took her to Houston Texas, where her management skills were used for the rapidly growing Zimmerman Medical Clinic, and eventually Houston contractors engaged in the design and construction of The Original Houston Astrodome. In 1994 at age 75 she moved to Brentwood, Missouri to be closer to her family.  She enjoyed trips back to Arcola to share Thanksgiving holidays with Bill and Harriett Herrington and their children’s families. The Mathias’ children and their friends always enjoyed her visits and were amazed by her skills at card games of chance well into her 90’s. Betty’s honesty, efficiency, and fine character are well acknowledged by her family, friends and former employers. She had a good long life and always remembered “her roots” in Arcola.

Memorials are suggested to the Arcola Foundation funds, either “The Amazing Arcola Fund” to help Arcola, or the “Arcola Alumni Fund” used to do things for the school that otherwise might not be done.  Send to Lynn Miller, P.O. Box 100, Arcola, IL 61910.