Obituary of Betty Lou Ashton

Betty Lou Ashton, 99, of Niles, passed away at home on Thursday, October 29, 2020. Betty Lou was born on July 12, 1921, to the late Newton Wyman and Marjorie (Phillips) Batchelor in Buchanan, Michigan. After graduating from high school, Betty Lou wed Arthur Gregg Ashton on her 18th birthday. She worked during the war but her true passion was being a wife and mom. Her family always had three home-cooked meals every day, her house was clean and ready for company at a moment's notice, and she spent all of her free time with her family. When the grandchildren came along Betty Lou became known as “Cookie Grandma” because the grandkids never left her house without a cookie in hand. She also delighted in crocheting items for her family members. She was always working on crocheting blankets, afghans, hats, sweaters, shawls, and baby booties. Betty Lou will always be remembered by her family as a good sport who always enjoyed the shenanigans with her kids and grandkids. She truly loved being involved in their family trips. She also enjoyed being outside. It didn’t matter if she was tending to her pristine rose garden, watching the birds, shopping from store to store, or laughing and enjoying a lunch date with her siblings. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wyman and Marjorie Batchelor; husband, Arthur Gregg Ashton Sr.; son, Arthur Gregg Ashton Jr., daughter, Judith Watson; siblings, Joyce (Richard) Polega, George Batchelor, Mary (Robert) Heiney, Charlotte (William) Burkett, and Nancy Vite; sibling-in-laws, Eugene Aalfs, Genevieve Batchelor, and Stanley Swank. Betty Lou is survived by her children, Marjorie Ashton of Niles and Charlotte Ashton of Niles; grandchildren,Lorie Bestle, John (Lori) Watson, Robert Watson, Darlene Wood, Victoria (Michael) Casner, and Scott (Suzanne) Irwin; 10 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Margaret Aalfs of Buchanan, Dennis Batchelor of Fountain, Michigan, James Batchelor of Niles, and Kathleen “Kay” Swank of Buchanan; sibling-in-laws, Grace Batchelor and Robert Vite both of Buchanan; and many extended family members and close friends. Betty Lou’s family will be hosting a memorial service at First United Methodist Church in Buchanan on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. with a time of visitation one hour prior.