Betty Lou Gulley

Betty Lou Gulley went home to be with the Lord on Friday, May 29, 2020 at the age of 92. She was born on December 11, 1927 in Parma, Missouri to Albert and Estol Pulliam. She was the oldest of four children. Betty was baptized at the Church of the Assumption on April 16, 1938 in Perryville, Missouri as Elizabeth Louise Pulliam. The family moved to Michigan at age 11. She attended school in Lacota, Michigan through eighth grade. She had to leave school to help her family raise her three siblings.

Betty married Thomas Earl Gulley in 1951 who passed away July, 2003. They shared 52 years in marriage.

During her lifetime, Betty worked at the South Haven Phone Company then Bohn Aluminum Plant in which she worked for 38 years. She retired in 1989. Betty then worked for Golden Brown Bakery for ten years retiring in 2003.

Betty’s first love was her whole family. She loved family get togethers and enjoyed cooking southern dishes. She is best known for her fried chicken and fried corn recipes.

In her younger years she loved to work outside on her flower gardens and canned fruits and vegetables. She also loved to watch sports, particularly baseball. She was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. To fulfill one of her wishes on her bucket list, she flew with family in 2016 to St. Louis to see a Cardinal game.

She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother. Betty is survived by her children, Barbara (Wally) MacQuarrie of Foley, Alabama, Janet (Kurt) Targgart of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Earl Gulley of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Sissie (Tim) Nicholson of South Haven, Michigan; grandchildren, Rod (Sue) MacQuarrie, Donna (Dave) Carlson, Jonathan (Brittany) MacQuarrie, Christopher (Missy) Targgart, Jina (Jim) Grablick, Brett (Brandy) Gulley, Grant Gulley, Dane Gulley, Jamie (Amanda) Nicholson, Josh (Lorin) Nicholson, great grandchildren, Cody, Jeremy, Kaitlyn, Emma, John Lee, Natalie, Sam, Max, Tate, Brennan, Devon, Jennifer, Alan, Tara, Collin, Lachlan, Iain, Colin, Logan, Hannah, and Gunnar, great-great grandchildren, Ava and Caydan.

She is preceded in death by her parents Albert and Estol Pulliam, two brothers, Glen and Bobby Pulliam, sister, Ruth Crawford, grandson, Scott MacQuarrie, great grandson, Christian, and son-in-law, Lee Targgart.

The family would like to especially thank the entire staff at Vineyard Assisted Living and Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan in Kalamazoo for the exceptional loving care they gave Betty. Also, a special thank you to Maria Rayas of South Haven for her friendship and caregiving while Betty resided at her home in South Haven.

A visitation will be held from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM on Monday, June 1, 2020 at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home in South Haven. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 2:00 PM with Pastor Travis Wilson officiating. Contributions may be made in Betty’s memory to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, 222 N. Kalamazoo Mall, #100, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007.