Elizabeth “Betty Ann” Workman (née Mahoney), aged 83, of Apache Junction, Arizona, formerly of Waverly, Illinois, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2024.
Betty was born on December 9, 1940 the daughter of Edward M. and Helen E. Mahoney (née Newell) of Ashland, Illinois. Her parents were third generation farmers in the Ashland area.
Before meeting her future husband, Betty worked at the Bell Telephone Company. She married David R. Workman on September 22, 1962. They celebrated 47 years of marriage before Dave’s death on November 7, 2009. Betty and Dave lived on and operated a grain and livestock farm South of Waverly, Illinois, where their son’s Steve and Don were born.
In 1976, Betty and Dave retired from farming, said goodbye to many dear friends, bowling partners, Pinochle couples, and then moved to the warmer climate of Arizona. They built their lifetime home at the base of the Superstition Mountain. Betty enjoyed the Sonoran Desert and the abundance of wildlife with which they shared their home – even the occasional rattlesnake.
Betty’s home was always a gathering place for friends and family. Often 20-30 people from many states would share her holiday dinner table.
Her love and caring of her husband, children, and grandchildren and friends was boundless. She is survived by her two sons, Steve and his son Weston; Don, his wife Kari, and their three children Zachary, Alex, and Halee. Betty also leaves behind her brother, Don Mahoney, his wife Linda, and nephews Mark (Grainne) Mahoney, Michael (Becky) Mahoney, and Chad (Jenny) Mahoney.
Betty and Dave wished that their remains be interred together at the Saint Augustine Catholic cemetery in Ashland.
The Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM on September 14, 2024, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Ashland, Illinois. Family and friends are invited to gather for a viewing beginning at 9:30 AM prior to the service. The arrangements are being handled by Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home, Ashland, Illinois.
In remembrance of Betty’s spirit and kindness, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association in lieu of flowers. Her memory will continue to inspire and influence everyone who knew her, and she will be dearly missed.