Betty Lou Wardell

Betty Lou Wardell, 77,  joined her heavenly father on June 4, 2007, after a long illness.  At the time of her death, she resided in Prescott, Arizona.  Betty Lou was born on April 19, 1930 in Belvedere, Illinois; the daughter of Charles F. and Ida Mae (Messick) Riley.  Although born in Belvedere, she grew up in Rockford, Illinois. Following her graduation from East Rockford HS, Class of ?48, she attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa.  While attending Cornell, she met Richard (Dick) Wardell, from Freeport, Illinois.  She and Dick, the love of her life, were joined in marriage on October 27, 1951.  Their family inclued two sons. From 1968 to 1981 Betty Lou was a Realtor in Miami and Coral Gables, Florida.  She was very triumphant in her career and was awarded the highly successful achievement of ?Million Dollar Producer?. Betty Lou enjoyed playing bridge, reading and working cross puzzles.  She also enjoyed traveling and actively traveled within the U.S., Europe, and Austrailia.  She enjoyed sports and in addition to spending time on the golf course with her husband, she was an avid Miami Dolphins fan and Phoenix Suns fan.  From the start of the season to the end, she never missed watching the Dolphins and the Suns play and even while in the hospital she watched and stayed on top of the recent Suns playoff games. Betty Lou is survived by Richard (Dick) Wardell, her loving and caring husband of 56 years, her son Jay Wardell and daughter-in-law, Michael Messick-Wardell of Cave Creek, Arizona and her son Brian Wardell of Scottsdale, Arizona, her sister Linda Johnson of Mineral Well, Texas, her sister-in-law Shirely Riley of Mineral Wells, Texas, four aunts, two uncles and numerous cousins.  Betty Lou is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Charles Riley.