Elizabeth Finley

October 2, 1923 - December 9, 2015

Ellen Elizabeth Forney Finley, 92, Roscoe, died peacefully in her sleep Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at the NorthPointe Terrace Assisted Living facility. Elizabeth, the eldest child of Roy Cranston and Harriet Pearl (Robbins) Forney, was born October 2, 1923 in Streator, IL. In 1945, she graduated from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana where she was a member of 4-H House Sorority, Home Economics Club and the McKinley Foundation. It was at U of I, where she met the love of her life, Charles Sager Finley. The inseparable pair were married June 16, 1946 in Whitefield, IL. The Finleys moved to Phoenix, AZ, then returned to Rockford, IL, and finally retired in 1988 to Louisville, KY. Beth loved God, home and country and spent her life devoted to all three. Beth and Chuck loved to travel the United States, visiting their many friends and family from sea to shining sea. Beth belonged to the Arlene Circle at First Evangelical Covenant Church, was a Charter Member of the Kentucky Derby Museum and member of the National Society of Tole and Decorative Painters. She also enjoyed sewing, baking, playing piano and making her home a welcoming place. Beth was an independent woman with a wealth of knowledge and experience. She cherished wonderful memories of time spent with her loved ones, which over the years equated to a substantial and collaborative memoir, “signing the guest book”. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Ruth Aileen Rogers, brothers Dr. Robert Cranston Forney, and Roger Franklin Forney. Survivors include children, Carol (Tommy) Highfil, Stephen (Denise) Finley, Jeannette (Jim) Mays, Diane (Mark) Eads, David (Pattie) Finley and Paul Finley; brother J. Richard (Bernice) Forney, sister Jeanne (John) Mudry; 11 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and a host of family, friends and admirers. Memorial service pending through Anderson Funeral Home, 427 East Main Street, Hoopeston, IL 60942; interment will be at Floral Hill Cemetery, Hoopeston, IL. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Elizabeth “Beth” Forney Finley’s name to Benson Baptist Church, 402 Pleasant Street, Benson, IL 61516. God, family, friends, love, laughter, horses and music were always an important part of her life. Life was a gift and she was richly blessed! “Bless Your Little Heart, Happy Trails to You, and God Bless America!”