Betty L. Shawgo, 91, of Burlington, died at 3:40 p.m. Friday, November 11, 2011, at Bickford Cottage.
Born January 29, 1920 in Astoria, Illinois, she was the daughter of Floyd and Carrie Johnson Walters. On May 29, 1942 she married Erman Shawgo in St. Louis, Missouri where he was stationed with the US Army Air Corps. He preceded her in death on September 26, 1982.
Betty was a well known and respected Realtor in the Burlington area for 35 years. She and her husband Erman established the Shawgo Realty Co. in 1968. After Erman's death, she continued to manage the office until she merged with the Ann Hummel & Co. which later sold to Wolfe Real Estate Co., and then merged with three other companies to form the Coldwell Banker Great River Real Estate, where she continued as a broker associate until her retirement in 2002.
Betty was a member of the Burlington Board of Realtors, the Iowa Association of Realtors and the National Association. She served as President of the Burlington Board for two different terms in 1985 and 1993 and on several state committees.
Betty was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Marian Circle, served on the Board of Trustees and several committees. She was a former member of the Just Jazz Club and had represented that group on the BFAC (Burlington Fine Arts Council). She was a long time member of the Federated Women's Club and several Bridge clubs. She was a charter member of the original Captains Committee of the Chamber of Commerce for a number of years.
Betty did volunteer work at GRMC hospital gift shop, the Art Center, and the Welcome Center at the Port of Burlington.
She loved traveling and she and her husband had many fun trips by car and in their motor home with their two pet cats. Later she joined the Good Neighbors Club and went on many car and bus trips with family and friends.
Betty grew up in the Spoon River country, graduated from Ipava Community High School and Western Illinois State College in Macomb. She taught in the elementary school system in Fulton County for four years, two years in Lewistown and two years in Astoria, Illinois.
After her marriage, she moved to St. Louis, where Erman was stationed at Jefferson Barracks. While living in St. Louis she worked at Emerson Electric Co., which had been converted to a defense plant manufacturing gun turrets for fighter planes. When Erman was transferred to Randolph Field, Texas, they moved to San Antonio where she worked in the office of the Fort Sam Houston Hospital.
After returning to Burlington in 1946, she worked as a bookkeeper and office manager for Mr. Harry Murray at Hawkeye Motor Co. for 20 years before becoming a Realtor.
Survivors include one sister, Dorla Danner of Springfield, Illinois; a sister-in-law, Martha Walters of Canton, Illinois; three nieces, Dawn and Dianne Danner and Debbie Eddington all of Springfield; four nephews, Curtis and Steven Walters of Canton, Dennis Danner of Sherman, Illinois and David Danner of Springfield; two great nieces; two great nephews and several great-great nieces and nephews. Also surviving is a helper and friend who has been like a son, Mark Miller of Burlington, a devoted friend and personal assistant, Joyce Doyle of Burlington, and many more dear friends.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, one brother Roy Walters, and one infant sister.
The family will receive friends from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 15th, in Lunning Chapel.
The funeral service for Mrs. Shawgo will be Thursday, November 17th, at 11:00 a.m. in Lunning Chapel with the Rev. Michael Orthel officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for First United Methodist Church, Des Moines County Humane Society and Y.W.C.A. Domestic Violence Shelter.
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