Obituary of Betty Jo Surber

Betty J. Surber, age 82 of Monroe, Michigan passed away on Friday, December 21, 2018 at Wellspring Lutheran Services in Monroe.   She had been under the care of ProMedica Hospice, after a very courageous, hard fought two-and-a-half-year battle with Cholangiocarcinoma, Bile duct cancer.

Betty was born on September 6, 1936 to Emory and Pearl (Marshall) Willis.   She married the love of her life, Howard M Surber, on September 1, 1956.

A Monroe High School graduate, Betty, attended Monroe County Community College and Eastern Michigan University, obtaining her BS/BA in Education and a Master’s Degree in Special Education. She was employed by Whiteford Agricultural Schools for twenty-one years. Betty was a lifetime member of the National Education Association (N.E.A.) and Michigan Education Association (M.E.A.).   After her retirement she served the resident of Monroe Charter Township as their Clerk.   She enjoyed gardening, baking, going to casinos, bus trips and volunteering at the Monroe County Opportunity Program’s; Lord’s Harvest Pantry.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Merkle Funeral Service, South Monroe; 14567 South Dixie Highway (734) 241-7070. Betty was laid to rest at Roselawn Memorial Park in LaSalle.   A Celebration of Her Life is being planned for a later date.

Betty passing was preceded by her parents; her brothers along with their wives: Victor and Rose, Robert and Billie, and Don and Georgia Sue Willis.

To cherish her memory, Betty leaves her loving husband of sixty-three years: Howard; one daughter: Penny (Lonnie) Gordon of LaSalle; one son: Zohn Surber of Monroe; two granddaughters: Callie Gordon of Dundee and Hannah Gordon of Ida; two sisters: Lorene Loop of Monroe and Brenda (Roy) Revels of Ocala, Florida; along with several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ebeid Hospice, 5340 Harroun Road, Sylvania, Ohio or Monroe County Opportunity Program (MCOP) Lord’s Harvest Pantry, 1140 South Telegraph Road, Monroe, Michigan 48161. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.