Born to Grace E. (Honsman) and Harold L. Sage, Violet was one of nine
children. She grew up in Monmouth and met Earl Welty when they both
worked at the Monmouth Pottery. Earl said he “had to get to know that
gal who looked mad all the time”. They dated, fell in love, and were
married Sept. 7th, 1947. Vi’s father employed Earl in his construction
company and later, the young couple bought and operated a car repair
business in the building which is now Vickroy’s Furniture in Monmouth.
Due to Earl’s health, the family (with young Kathy & Mike) moved to
Florida where Vi was an assistant to the dietician at Leesburg General
Hospital. Their daughter, Kyle was born in Florida. Years later, the
family moved back to Illinois. Together, the couple had three children,
Kathy (Bob) Keneipp, Galesburg, Mike Welty, Peoria, and Kyle (Doug)
Proctor, Gladwin, MI. Vi held a number of jobs including but not limited
to: supervisor at Formfit Rogers, caregiver/companion to the elderly,
nanny/sitter to children, a tireless kitchen manager/church volunteer,
and always a loving, doting matriarch to her family. Violet enjoyed
cooking, crocheting, reading, and tending to her plants. She was a very
creative crafter, and most of all, loved spending time with her family,
friends and pets. She established what is now the gift shop at her
former church, earning funds for several charities. She was a member of
various women’s groups and committees. Violet was a devout Christian who
worshiped her God and was faithful in helping others. One of her
favorite hymns was “Amazing Grace”.
Besides her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Orville, Jesse, Harold Jr., and two sisters, Bonnie (Morgan) Wells, and Carol Buckley.
Surviving are Violet’s children and three grandchildren: Eric (Laura), Stacie (Rob) & Jamie (Josh) plus three great-grandchildren: Tyler, Riley & Saige, Westland, MI, a brother Lloyd Sage, Ocala, FL, and two sisters, Colleen
Larkins, Galesburg, and Darlene Moffet, Monmouth, plus numerous nieces
and nephews. She always liked her name since it represented a flower, a
month, and an herb: a name as unique as the woman herself.
Friends may call and pay their respects to Violet on Thursday at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, Illinois. The family plans a family interment service at 1:30 pm on Thursday at Monmouth Cemetery.Due to the restrictions of the CDC and the Covid Pandemic, no visitations hours with her family is being planned at the funeral home. Masks and social distancing should be required. Memorials may be made to Knox County Nursing Home Activity Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association
