Betty Lou Chappell

Betty Lou Chappell was born May 8, 1932, to Edith Cook Mettert and Jesse Mettert. She passed away November 9, 2025, at Addison Place in New Castle, IN. She was preceded in death by her parents and a younger brother, Robert, who passed away in 1998. She grew up in New Castle, graduating from New Castle High School in 1950, and meeting her future husband, Merrill Chappell, there in 1951. Merrill had just returned to New Castle after serving in the Navy and had started a career in sales with the Morton Salt Company, while Betty was employed by Delco Remy in Anderson. They were married on January 16, 1953, and, wasting no time, had their first child, Steven, in December of that year. The couple had always wanted three children, and their second child, Greg, was born in June of 1955. After having two sons, the couple wanted to add a girl to the family and, as luck would have it, Beth Ann was born January 1, 1959.

Betty was a homemaker for most of her life as family was always her first priority. She started working for the New Castle School System in the early seventies and retired from there in the early 2000’s, after 29 years of service. She loved being around children and was thrilled to have seven grandchildren to spoil as her kids got married and had families of their own. Betty also lived long enough to enjoy her eight great grandchildren.

Betty and Merrill loved spending their winters in Ruskin, Florida, and spent many years driving south, returning to Indiana every spring.

Merrill passed away in 2006, and in 2008 Betty married Jim Carswell. Jim also had a place in Ruskin, Florida, and they continued to enjoy warmer winters for the next few years. Jim also had property in Northern Michigan, and the couple spent lots of summertime around the Great Lakes, as Jim would drive her anywhere, she wanted to go. He died in 2017, and Betty has spent her remaining years in New Castle.

Betty lived the last couple of years at Addison Place, where she received outstanding care and grew to love the people assisting her. We will always say great things about Addison Place.

Graveside services will be held Friday, November 14, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at South Mound Cemetery, West Lawn Addition for immediate family only. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle. Memorial contributions may be sent to Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., FL. 17, Chicago, IL 60601. You may express condolences or share a memory of Betty at www.hinsey-brown.com.