Elizabeth Normajean (Betty) Kriegh McGuire, the second of Percival S. and Julia Ray Kriegh’s seven children, was born in Springfield, Missouri, on February 10, 1925, and departed this life on October 29, 2024, in Alton, Missouri, at the age of 99.
The Kriegh family moved to West Plains when Betty was three, and they operated Kriegh Grocery in their home. Betty’s dad also sold Watkins products door-to-door, and Betty had sweet childhood memories of riding with him on his route. In the midst of the Depression, her dad persuaded a piano teacher to accept Watkins products as payment for Betty to have piano lessons. Betty’s parents eventually became well known for the daily radio weather broadcasts that they gave live from their home for more than forty years. On February 17, 1941, one week after her 16th birthday, Betty married Donnie McGuire, of Thayer, Missouri, and to this union, four children were born. At the time of Donnie’s death on October 4, 2010, the couple had been married for more than 69 years.
Donnie enlisted into the United States Army during WWII and was sent to the European Theater, while teenaged Betty remained in Thayer, Missouri, caring for their two little girls. After the war, Donnie apprenticed at James Jewelry in Thayer, and in 1948, they moved to Alton, Missouri, and opened the Alton Jewelry Store, which they owned and operated for 35 years. Their two amazing sons were born after their move to Alton. In 1953, they also contracted with the U.S. Postal Service to carry the Star Route Mail, and together, they carried the mail and serviced the mail boxes between Alton, Couch, and Thayer for 47 years. They kept busy parenting four active children who thrived in the academic and activities’ programs of the Alton School District and who went on to earn multiple college degrees and achieve professional careers.
Betty was a gifted seamstress, designing and sewing beautiful dresses for her daughters and for their dolls. During WWII, sugar, flour, and feed were produced and sold in printed fabric bags, and Betty used the fabric from these bags to sew dresses. She also loved piecing quilts, embroidering, crocheting, and knitting. Family members all treasure the many quilts, embroidered pillowcases, and afghans that she made for them. Her son David recalls that when he was a child, he rode with her on her mail route, and while they had to sit in the station wagon at the train station in Thayer to wait for Alton’s mail to arrive, he helped her cut out quilt pieces.
Betty taught her daughter Donna how to piece quilts, among other sewing skills, and she was pleased that Donna’s creativity surpassed her own. Over the years, Betty enjoyed friendships and fellowship in a number of clubs in Alton, including the Alton Culture Club, Extension Club, and the Order of the Eastern Star. Betty’s baby sister Phyllis Roberts blessed Betty with travel to several wonderful European destinations, including Paris, France, as well as many trips within the United States—highlighted by a cruise to Alaska. Betty was a member of the Church of Christ for almost all of her adult life, and she and Donnie were founding members of the Alton Church of Christ. Donnie led the congregational singing for many years, and Betty often sang with him in quartets at various gatherings. Among Betty’s last words was her grateful sharing that all four of her children were Christians.
Survivors include two daughters, Donna Jean McGuire Caruthers and husband, Don, of Alton, and Micki McGuire Kirkham and husband, Gene Kirkham, of Columbia, Missouri; two sons, David Elton McGuire of Maumelle, Arkansas, and James Alan McGuire of Austin, Texas; six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; one brother, John Ray Kriegh of St. Charles, MO; one sister, Phyllis Kriegh Roberts of Ballwin, Missouri; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Donnie; her parents; three brothers, Percival S. Kriegh, James Arthur Kriegh, and Robert Kriegh; one sister, Naomi Mae Kriegh Lee; daughter-in-law, Jeanette Hogan McGuire; and granddaughter, Deanna Lynne Caruthers.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at the Alton Church of Christ. Services will follow at 11:00 AM., with Brother Steve Biffle officiating. Burial will be in the Hickory Grove Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Clary Funeral Home in Alton, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alton Church of Christ.
