Mrs. Betty J. (Blair) Wiley

“Sorry Mom, I tried to help with your wishes to reach 100.  I guess 29 it is!  You Are Pain Free!”

Betty J. Wiley, 77 of Abingdon, “the secret wife of Elvis Presley”, passed away in her sleep at 3:50 a.m. Sunday, October 13, 2019 at the Kewanee Care Home in Kewanee, Illinois. She loved telling everyone she was married to Elvis and had their wedding picture to prove it!

She was raised by her loving Foster parents, Perry and Florence Sargent in Galesburg.  She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1959 and married Gary R. Wiley on December 12, 1959 in Galesburg.  He preceded her in death on February 18, 2004.

Betty is the Mother of two children, Lynn Jones of Abingdon and Scott Wiley of Las Vegas, Nevada.  Betty was so proud to be the grandma for all of her 6 grandkids.  She loved baking special holiday cookies and treats.  Her favorite hobby was sewing, especially for her grandkids.  She made Halloween costumes, clothes, dolls, stuffed animals and of course, Elvis Pillows.  Her six grandkids are, Chance (Alyssa) Jones of Galva, Chayne (Jim) Chamberlain of Peoria, Colt Jones of Texas, Cordan (Daniel) Beebe of Abingdon, McKay (Robert) Flemming of California and Mitchell (Jessica) Wiley of Galesburg.  She was also proud of having 15 great-grandkids. 

Betty worked as a master cook for two decades at the Care Center of Abingdon, before she retired.  She loved decorating for Christmas, even with broken decorations.  She also loved her 4-letteer words as much as she loved her BEER.  She loved to talk and enjoyed her friends and family to have a beer with her, especially her “best son-in-law”, Bill.  She was very adamite hat things go her way!  She loved her special gel pens and spent days coloring and reading.  For being a woman who loved mini-skirts, go-go boots, and tipping her elbow, she was the toughest person her daughter knew, even with those long, disgusting fingernails.  “Mom, you won”.

Many thanks go out to the staff at OSF St. Mary Medical Center ER and 4th Floor.  All of you provided amazing compassion for our Mother and exceptional comfort to her at a level that we could not begin to comprehend.  “Thank You”.

Cremation will be accorded.  Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 17, 2019 at the Abingdon Cemetery.  There will be no visitation.  Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Abingdon Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the family.  Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.

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