Obituary of Betty Colleen Echlin
Age 56, of Mt. Morris, passed away Thursday, November 18, 2021, at home with her family by her side. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Otisville. Rev. Fr. Dennis Spitzley to officiate. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be directed to the Genesys/Hurley Cancer Institute patient program fund, 302 Kensington Ave. Flint, MI 48503. Expressions of sympathy may be placed on Betty’s tribute page at martinfuneralhome.com.
Betty was born in Flint on December 13, 1964, the daughter of Clifford Lane and Ruth (Limmer) Schmitzer. Educated locally, Betty graduated from Flint Southwestern High School with the class of 1983. Betty met and married the love of her life, Daniel Echlin on May 24, 1986, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mt. Morris. Betty volunteered in a classroom at St. Mary’s Catholic School as a teacher’s aide. After several years teaching there, she went on to pursue her teaching career by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in teaching from the University of Michigan Flint, at the age of 45. Betty started her career working as a teacher for Bendle Elementary School helping young children wherever she was needed. She enjoyed working with the students that were challenged, working one on one with them was her favorite role. She loved each child as her own and gave them a sense of worth. Betty loved African American Literature. She expressed herself in words and by her writing. She wrote a paper that was published in the Mott Community College paper. Betty was an avid lover of poetry, paintings, and art. She spent much time at the Flint Institute of Art. Betty was a smart dresser and loved to wear all the bling. Betty was an active volunteer and was very involved in the local Genesys/Hurley cancer institute. She became sober because she loved her son and would like to express a special thanks to Dr. Bob and Lynn for 20 years of sobriety. Some of the hobbies that Betty enjoyed were camping at Finn Rd. Park in Essexville where they could go fishing on the Bay, golfing at Beechwood Greens, and walking. Betty loved to help everyone and was a mentor to over 100 people. She was admired by so many. You were blessed to have known her. She helped all that knew her and could talk anyone through any hard time. She liked to play games anything from cards to board games and word games on her iPad. She will be greatly missed.
Betty is survived by her husband of 35 years, Daniel Echlin; son, DJ and wife, Bing Echlin; brother, Brian and wife, Anita Lane; brothers and sisters-in-law: Thomas Echlin, Mary Murphy, Mike and wife, Jennifer Echlin, Don and wife, Twinkle Echlin; several nieces, nephews, and friends; her favorite dog, Trixie.
Betty was preceded in death by her father, Clifford Lane, and her parents, Ruth and Robert "Papa" Schmitzer; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Arnold and Marian Echlin; grandmother, Madeline Lane; brother, Craig J. Lane; nephew, Michael Craig Lane.