Elizabeth Blair "Betty" Sutton died peacefully on June 21, 2008 at home, surrounded by her family. She was born in Alton, IL on June 3, 1918, the daughter of Roy A. Blair and Lucy Stifler Blair, and the middle of three dearly-loved sisters. She attended Shurtleff College in Alton, where she graduated as valedictorian in 1939 and won a graduate scholarship to the University of Illinois. She completed her Master's Degree in History in 1940 and taught public school for a short time. On June 19, 1942, she married Robert M. Sutton. They spent the first three years of their life together at various Army posts while he completed his military service. In 1946, they moved to Champaign-Urbana where Robert ultimately joined the History faculty at the University of Illinois and they remained in the area for the rest of their lives. After 62 years of marriage, her husband, Bob, died on May 2, 2005. Much of Betty's energy and focus throughout her long and blessed life went to her family, consisting of Sarah (Gerald) Mager of Amherst, MA, Bill (Jane) Sutton of Urbana, David (Beth) Sutton of Muskegon, MI, and Betsy (Jim) Smith of Urbana. Her affection for her children was easily extended to her 8 grandchildren (Nick and Molly Smith, and Emily, Ben, Rachel, Matt, Zak, and Laura Sutton) and her one great-grandchild, Kaelyn McClements. Besides raising this family (and providing a loving home support for various family friends), she collaborated with her husband on a number of academic projects related to Illinois history. In addition, she was an active volunteer, providing invaluable services as a member of University Baptist Church, as a housemother for the church's women's housing ministry, Stratford House, and as a personal mentor for dozens of young women. She also worked as a Librarian's aide at King School, participated in empty tomb's Family-to-Family dinner program, and gave generously to charitable organizations all over the world. Her most treasured times, however, were spent with members of her extended family at the family cottage near Crystal Lake, Michigan, where she had vacationed from the age of 2. Undergirding, motivating, and inspiring the love reflected in her devotion to family and to her many volunteer activities was her abiding faith in the grace and mercy of God. To the end of her life, she maintained a strength of faith and a grateful attitude noticeable by all. She will be deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved her, but her life will be rightly remembered and celebrated as well, as an expression of Jesus's loving presence in the world. Services will be held at University Baptist Church, corner of Fourth and Daniel, Champaign, on Saturday, June 28 at 3:00 PM and her family will greet friends following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to empty tomb, Provena Hospice, or the Baptist Student Foundation and condolences may be offered at renner-wikoffchapel.com.