Georgetta F. (Hayes) Armstrong of Mt. Carmel, Illinois passed from this side of forever on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 while a patient at Wabash General Hospital. She was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on August 14, 1932, the daughter of George S. and Leota (Horton) Hayes. Georgetta’s family followed the oil boom to Mt. Carmel in the late 1930s, and she remained a Mt. Carmel resident ever since. She married the love of her life, LaMoine Armstrong, at the Mt. Carmel First Baptist Church on June 6, 1950.
She had a strong faith and dearly loved her family. Georgetta lived with graceful and silent courage through a myriad of health issues to the end. She was a strong, intellectual but unpretentious person, and a wonderful role model for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Georgetta had a life-long passion for reading, and voraciously read the Mt. Carmel and Evansville newspapers, the Wall Street Journal, and novels (particularly mysteries and science-fiction).
Georgetta was a leader throughout her long life, including stints as the Mt. Carmel High School Class President (Class of 1950), girl scout leader, cub scout den mother, and Golden Nuggets softball coach during the inaugural years of the girls softball program in Mt. Carmel. She also organized and led multiple youth group trips to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ridgecrest church camp in the mountains of North Carolina. Georgetta was never afraid to strike up a conversation with anyone anywhere, including the then Georgia gubernatorial candidate Jimmy Carter on the front steps of the Ridgecrest chapel.
She worked many years in the Mt. Carmel post office until she was promoted Assistant Post Master in Bellmont.
Georgetta, LaMoine and her family greatly enjoyed decades of boating on the Wabash and White Rivers, Lake Barkley, and Kentucky Lake. She also loved to travel. Until health issues intervened, Georgetta traveled throughout the U.S., the Caribbean, Australia, and Europe, including many tours sponsored by Wabash Valley College and Mount Carmel High School, led by her friends Jerry and Vickie Bayne.
Georgetta is survived by her loving children Terry Armstrong of Mt. Carmel, Gabe (Denise) Armstrong of Mt. Carmel, George (Georgia) Armstrong of East Peoria, Illinois, as well as her adoring grandchildren Gerrit (Jamie) Armstrong, Marci Armstrong, Jacob (Elisha) Armstrong, Jason Armstrong, and Kyle Armstrong, and great-grandchildren Allyson and Maleah Armstrong; step brother, Kevin (Lee Ann) Macy, step grandchild Shaun (Jenny) Bruner and step great-grandchildren Liam and Mila Bruner; her dear niece Michele (Bryan) Loeffler and grand-niece Kelsey (Trey) Beckerman also cherish Georgetta’s memory.
Georgetta was preceded in death by many that she dearly loved, including her parents George and Leota, husband of 61 years LaMoine, brother Donald L. Hayes, sister-in-law Marilyn (Zimmerman) Hayes, and daughter-in-law Mary (White) Armstrong.
Family and friends are invited to a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 30, 2021, at Short-Cunningham Funeral Home, 527 N Mulberry Street, Mt. Carmel, Illinois. A graveside funeral service will be held at 11:30 in Highland Memorial Cemetery, 1827 College Drive, Mt. Carmel, on Friday, April 30, 2021 following visitation.
COVID-19 precautions, wearing of face coverings, social distancing and use of hand sanitizer is recommended.
Memorials can be made to the Mt. Carmel Library, 727 N Mulberry Street, Mt. Carmel, Illinois 62863 and envelopes will be available at Short Funeral Home.
Condolences may be made online at www.short-cunninghamfh.com
Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve Georgetta’s family.
