Joan Elizabeth Wetherell Beatty (79) of Memphis, Tennessee, formerly of Shumway

Joan Elizabeth Wetherell Beatty, 79, died Friday, August 17, 2018 in Memphis, Tennessee.

She was born on February 6, 1939, in Shumway, Illinois. She was the youngest of eight children of Seth George Wetherell and Alma Fredaricka Cathrine (Laue) Wetherell. Joan graduated from Beecher City High School in Beecher City, Illinois and later attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. She did secretarial work for the Illinois School System for nine years and retired in June of 1966. She and Eugene Beatty were married on June 18, 1966. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Shumway, Illinois, from birth until 1966; Christ Lutheran Church in Cape Canaveral, Florida, from 1966-1978; and Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Memphis, Tennessee from 1978 until her death. She was active in her church and conducted craft workshops at Lord of Life Lutheran Church for MIFA and Arlington Developmental Center for 25 years. She also was active in the Allenby Lakes Subdivision and acted as street captain for many years.

Surviving her are her sisters – Lois Jean Lynch of Round Rock, Texas; Ruth Swanson (Roger) of Monona, Iowa; Coralie Guthrie (Owen) of Springfield, Illinois; her brother-in-law Gerald Beatty (Ruth) of Pennsylvania; and many nephews and nieces.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, her brothers Paul Elwyn Wetherell (Eileen); Delano “Bud” Wetherell (Viola) and her sisters Thelma Sasse (Bill) and Nora Ruud (Roy).

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 25, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church located at 6865 Poplar Pike, Memphis, Tennessee 38119. Burial will take place at a later date. Memorials may be sent to Lord of Life Lutheran or Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund in Shumway, Illinois. Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life… Behind the Stone Wall”.