Lyllus "Lil" Jessie McHargue, age 96, of Monroe, Michigan met her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at Wellspring Lutheran Services Monroe. She was born to the late Charles and Maggie Whited on November 6, 1929. She will always be remembered for her laughter, fun stories and godly, generous life!

Lil attended Lincoln Elementary School and Monroe Junior High, but then went to high school at Owosso Bible College in Owosso, Michigan. That is where she met Lucius "Luke", her dear husband of 43 years.

After getting married (1947), at the mere age of 17, she worked at Independent Dairy scooping and serving ice cream at tables for a couple years. She could remember up to 13 orders without writing them down! She then began work at the Service/Complaint Department of Montgomery Ward in Owosso and Ann Arbor, Michigan from whence came many humorous anecdotes. When she was blessed with 3 children she became a full-time mother and housewife. When the children went to school she went back to work as a bank teller for First National Bank for about 15 years, with the last 8 years as head teller. She retired in 1989.

Lil grew up in church her entire life! She was a member of the Monroe Alliance Church and has served the Lord as a Missions Director, Sunday School teacher and Superintendent, youth leader, choir singer and Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPs) Coordinator.

For 20 years, she was a motivational speaker on laughter at various venues including churches throughout Michigan, Ohio and Las Vegas, women's retreats, the Monroe County Fair "Homemaker of the Year" speaker, and a business school in Lansing.

She loved to travel, which she did with her husband who was a teacher. They were able to visit all the national parks in the lower 48 states in the summers. She was able to include Hawaii later with some friends. Her mission trip to the West Indies and the Caribbean consisted of visiting 8 islands; meeting different missionaries, their churches, people, speaking, and eating monkey meat! The trip to Israel, Greece, and Egypt involved seeing the pyramids and riding a camel! Mom laughed when someone jokingly made the comment that when she got on the camel it had one hump, but when she got off it had 2 humps! Visits to Jamaica and Africa were enhanced by being with friends in those countries, not by the raw fish, lizards, and large spiders! She flew OVER 100 flights in her lifetime!

She was "crazy" in more ways than one! Whether it was making something to share with others or pranking or being pranked upon! She enjoyed crocheting or knitting dish rags for "nice" people on her travels, home, and visitors at church. She had many friends and adopted daughters whom she cherished. She will be greatly missed!

Family survivors are her two daughters; Lynda Bleyaert of Monroe, Michigan; Lori (Dave) Walker of Monroe, Michigan; daughter-in-law, Stephanie McHargue of North Ridge, Ohio; four grandchildren; Amy (Chad) Phillips, Lisa (Adam) Pursell, Kara Walker, and Loren McHargue; granddaughter-in-law, Rebekah McHargue and eleven great-grandchildren; Cohen, Micah, and Aliya Phillips, Bryan, Owen, Connor, Liam, Noah, and Sarah-Grace McHargue, and Henry and Juliet Pursell.

Lil was preceded in death by her husband, Luke, son, Larry McHargue; grandson, Stephen McHargue; son-in-law, Mike Bleyaert; her brothers, Vaughn, Alvin, and Don Whited and sisters, Sybil Whited and Lorene Mutch.

Along with flowers, donations can be made to the Monroe Alliance Church in Monroe, Michigan, Gabby's Grief Center in Monroe, Michigan or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday, October 15, 2026 at Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday. Rev. Mark Blake, pastor of Monroe Alliance Church, Will officiate. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park, LaSalle.

Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com.