Betty Jane Waterman, 86, of Taylorville passed away at 2:30pm Thursday, Octobter 6, 2011 at Memorial Medical Center, Springfield. She was born July 25, 1925 in Taylorville, the youngest child of Royal Mason and Edna Molly Pope Kennedy. She married Lt. Col. Benjamin Davis Waterman on February 2, 1946 in Taylorville. He preceded her in death on January 14, 2000.

Betty graduated from Taylorville High School in 1943. In her younger years she was an avid equestrian. Betty was a 27 year military spouse veteran that proudly supported her career Army husband and family through various overseas and stateside assignments and deployments. She enjoyed the Army life and was gregariously involved in spouse activities from bowling to fashion shows. She always made lifelong friends wherever she served. In her later years she enjoyed attending The First United Methodist Church of Taylorville. She was an accomplished seamstress and talented artist, creating various watercolor and pencil works of art. 

Survived are her daughters: Rebecca Lee (Ret. MSG David) Passoni of Taylorville and Frances Ann (Col. Everett) McDaniel of Japan. Grandchildren: Timothy Passoni of Normal, Carmen (Justin) Heberling of Taylorville, Robert Waterman of Pana, Carrie (Nicholas) Bennison of Pana, Nicholas (Rachel) Waterman, of Tower hill, Rachel McDaniel of Columbia, MO and AF Cadet Mason McDaniel of Colorado Springs, CO. 12 Great Grandchildren. Brother: Eugene Kennedy and Sister: Henrietta Barnes both of Taylorville. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son: Benjamin Kennedy Waterman, daughter, Jennifer K Waterman, and brothers: Buster Kennedy and Samuel Kennedy.

Visitation will be held from 10-11:30am Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at First United Methodist Church in Taylorville. Memorial Services will be held at 11:30am at the Church with Pastor Becky Lembke officiating. Inurnment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.

McClure Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.