Betty Louise Spehar

Born to parents Dr. William Murray II and Louise (Lahr) Murray on January 11, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois, she was the eldest of three children. The growing family moved to Olympia Fields, Illinois, where all of the siblings were raised to adulthood. After graduating as high school valedictorian in 1949, Betty attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in history in 1953 and was actively involved in the Delta Zeta sorority life throughout college. Post-graduation career growth led to employment with the Illinois Central Railroad and various excursions to downtown Chicago, enjoying theatre, concerts, dinners, shopping, and big-city life. She took two epic European trips, first sailing over on the Queen Mary, then returning two years later on the Queen Elizabeth.

While working in Chicago, Betty met her husband Theodore (Ted), and they were married on April 6, 1957. Together they were blessed with 3 children and, in time, relocated to Commerce, Michigan, where their children were raised and they called home throughout the remainder of their lives. Betty is survived by her brother William Murray III; her children George (Marsha) Spehar, Richard Spehar and partner Rina Battani, Kathleen Spehar and fiancée Daniel Hansen; and grandchildren Natalie (Spehar) Hooks, Nicole (Spehar) Cammack, Ryan Spehar, and Justin Spehar.

After becoming a parent, Betty was committed to family and in doing the best job she could raising her children. Her work career took a back seat, and she dedicated the next 2 decades to that endeavor, only taking on part time employment when the children were old enough and time permitted. Once settled in Commerce, she became a life member of Commerce United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir, performed with the bell choir, served on the Church Board and United Methodist Women’s Circle, and was an enthusiastic volunteer throughout her time there. She also remained connected to old friends through her sorority alumni association, was active in the League of Women Voters, and volunteered as a poll worker during many local elections. Eventually, Betty re-entered the workforce as an education administrator at Oakland University, where she served out her work career.

In the wake of her children graduating college and starting lives of their own, Betty reconnected with her desire for travel and found her way to numerous locations throughout the US, Japan, Europe, New Zealand, Israel, and other places. She also toured more lighthouses than you can shake a stick at, in the north, south, east and west regions of the United States. With the same quiet determination that guided her through her younger years, she found her way forward as a grandparent, then as a senior citizen, as a widow, and as a great grandparent. All the while, she managed to keep the things that were important in perspective and a priority.

To all who know and love her, Betty will be remembered for her kindness, sweetness, and caring ways; for her levelheadedness and loyalty, feistiness and independence, and love of music and family. Her presence will be sorely missed.

Visitation will be on Monday, August 26, 2024, at the Elton Black Funeral Home, 1233 Union Lake Rd., White Lake, Michigan from 5 PM – 8PM. A funeral service will be at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at Commerce United Methodist Church, 1155 N Commerce Rd., Commerce Township, Michigan, with a celebratory lunch served immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Betty’s honor can be made to the “kitchen fund” at the Commerce United Methodist Church

The service will also be livestreamed at https://commerceumc.org/media/