Betty Jean Malisia, 89, of Panama, died Friday, March 6, 2020, at 1:20 a.m. at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 11, from 12 to 2 p.m. at Perfetti-Assalley Funeral Home in Panama. Funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Frank Loskot, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery in Panama.
Mrs. Malisia was born Nov. 29, 1930, in Panama, the daughter of Arnold and Alice Ruth (Wall) McGill. She married Leo Malisia, Sr. on Aug. 19, 1949, in Sorento, and they later divorced.
A 1948 graduate of Hillsboro High School, she was a graduate from Capital Area Vocational School of Nursing. She worked as a nurse for many years at Hillsboro Nursing and Rehab and St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. She retired from Echlin in Litchfield.
She was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church of Panama, where she was the past president of the Women’s Club and a Sunday school teacher. She was a charter member of the VFW Post #6628 Auxiliary in Panama.
The ultimate boss, she enjoyed crocheting, growing flowers and plants, and traveling abroad. Most of all, she loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren more than anything.
She is survived by her children, Leo (wife Penny) Malisia, Jr. of Highland, Janice (husband William) Marshall of Litchfield, Peggy Hart of Hillsboro and Robert (wife Melissa) Malisia of Panama; grandchildren, Angela Stockamp of Litchfield, Alison (husband Adam) McCammack of Hillsboro, Andrea Hart of Petersburg, Rob Stockamp of Litchfield, Joseph (wife Ashleigh) Malisia of Bloomington, Matthew (wife Allyson) Malisia of Pocahontas and Mary (husband Clay) Zagarri of St. Louis, MO; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Dylan, Jordan, Adyson, Claire, Kate, Max, Gemma and Gwen; brothers, Robert and Darrell McGill, both of Taylor Springs; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, Arvada Hanus and Burnetta Redfearn; and brothers, Gerald, Kenneth and Burl Willmann, and John Allen, Arnie and Ralph McGill.
Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675.
Online condolences may be left at www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com.
