Obituary of Juanita Botts

Juanita Marie (Humphrey) Botts born June 13, 1932, in Chicago, IL to Bessie and Curtis Humphrey died July 29, 2023, in Zion, IL at the age of 91. Juanita spent much of her childhood in Mammoth Spring, AR and graduated from High School there in 1949. She married Billy Wayne Craine in 1950, however Billy was killed in the Korean conflict one month before their son Robert was born. She moved back to Illinois in 1951 after she married John Phillip Botts of Alton, MO and they lived in North Chicago due to his Navy career. Juanita and John eventually purchased a home and settled in Zion, IL where she lived for 45 years.

She worked various jobs in Zion including Knox Realty, church secretary at Grace Missionary Church, Munder Company and as a credit manager for Midway Supply until she retired in 1997.

Juanita was a member of Grace Missionary Church in Zion for many years, and was active in the choir, drama team and the women’s group known as the Silhouettes. Juanita was known for her sense of humor, quick wit and big heart which was demonstrated in the plays she acted in and her other activities. She loved her God and she loved to serve him through bringing joy and kindness to others.

Juanita moved to West Plains, MO after her retirement in 1997 as she and John had long dreamed of creating Woodhaven Farms there after they retired. Sadly, John passed before this dream could be realized by Juanita, always fiercely independent, determined to complete their dream house on the 80 acres they had purchased years before.

She became a member of Abundant Life Baptist Church and took up selling Avon. Juanita made friends everywhere she went and soon had a life full of activities and friends in Missouri for the next twenty years. She volunteered at a local nursing home with a group that sang to elderly people to bring joy to their days.

In 2017 she moved back to Kenosha, WI to be closer to her family and became active at Pleasant Prairie Baptist Church where she again made many wonderful caring friends. Juanita always had a smile and a kind word for everyone and had a way of drawing others to her with her loving nature. She will be missed by many.

Juanita is survived by her son, Robert (Christine) Botts and her daughter Kathleen Miller, 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Juanita loved her family with all her heart and made so many happy memories with each member all the way down to the great-grandchildren.

Juanita is preceded in death by her first husband, Bill Wayne Craine; husband, John Phillip Botts; daughter, Joy Lee Johnson; and son-in-law Larry Miller.


Visitation will be held on  August 9, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. followed by a service at 7:00 p.m. at Pleasant Prairie Baptist Church, located at 12323 Green Bay Rd. Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158.


Memorials may be given in Juanita’s memory to Pleasant Prairie Baptist Church.