Betty Jean Poynter, 91, of Beech Grove, Indiana passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her beloved grandchildren, daughters, sisters, and extended family on Saturday, November 4, 2017. Betty, known as "Aunt Bea" or simply "Granny", was the matriarch and protector/counselor to her large extended McGraw family. She was born December 20th, 1925 to William P. McGraw Sr. and Alice (Moyer) McGraw and grew up a proud Irish Catholic on the near southside of Indianapolis. She gained her grit living through the Great Depression; always watching out for her brothers and sisters in the neighborhood. She continued to fight for what was right for her family her whole life. All of us in her family, have stories of her coming in to save the day or save our lives (literally for some). She took us into her home when we did not have one and her home was the center of our family, where we spent every holiday and where we went for counsel when we felt lost. We went there for Granny''s wonderful life stories and life lessons. She always made everyone who entered feel special and laugh hysterically at her tell-it-like-it-is sense of humor. She had a popular 40''s-era song that she sang for each of us.
Betty married twice, but never lost her independence or her Catholic faith. She had several careers to take care of herself and her family. She worked at G.C. Murphy''s in Fountain Square, Lilly Pharmaceutical Company downtown, for her Brother Bob in his taverns, and for many years before she retired for St. Francis Hospital (Beech Grove) in the Cafeteria, where many of her children and grandchildren were born. Betty is survived by her daughters: Janet Keske-Martinez, Julie Voorhies, and Charee Jones; her sisters Julia Pero-Read and Alice Roska; her grandchildren: Brent Andrews, Kyle (Denise) Andrews, Dawn (Steve Keck) Henderson, Stephen (Sarah) Werner, Denise (Frank Shaw) Henderson, Elizabeth Werner, Matthew (Tara) Jones, Jessica (Edward) Courtney, Renee (Mario) Moreno; her great-grandchildren: Amanda Mawhinney, Alexandria Andrews, Blake Newkirk, Isaah Duncan, Justine Henderson, Kalianna Duncan, Shawn Keck, Veda Werner, Hendrix Werner, Logan Shaw, Mazarine Werner, Layla Courtney, Preston Jones, and Presley Jones; her great-great-grandchildren: Eli, Izzy, Ella, Allister, Mason and Lucas; many devoted nieces and nephews; and her loving caregivers. Betty was preceded in death by her parents and beloved daughter Debbie Henderson; both of her husbands: Jay Keske and W. Leon Poynter; her brothers: William (Doc) McGraw, Jr., Robert (Bob) McGraw; her sisters: Gladys Lookebill and Patricia McHugh; and her grandchildren: Bobby Dean and Scott Andrews.
Services for Betty will be held at:
Forest Lawn Funeral Home
1977 South S.R. 135
Greenwood, IN 46143
Viewing on Friday, November 10, 2017 from 4-8pm.
Funeral Service on Saturday, November 11, 2017 beginning at noon.

Peace
AH, that Time could touch a form
That could show what Homer's age
Bred to be a hero's wage.
'Were not all her life but storm
Would not painters paint a form
Of such noble lines,' I said,
'Such a delicate high head,
All that sternness amid charm,
All that sweetness amid strength?'
Ah, but peace that comes at length,
Came when Time had touched her form.
- The Great Irish Poet, William Butler Keats