Betty White

Betty Jean (Byrum) White passed away on February 15, 2019, at Legend Oaks Health and Rehabilitation in Waxahachie with her family by her side.  She was born on April 18, 1926, to John Wesley and Mamie Edith (Dykes) Byrum.  She was raised in Waxahachie and lived there her entire life.  She was a 1943 graduate of Waxahachie High School; and, over the years, she enjoyed meeting classmates at monthly luncheons and class reunions.

After graduating from high school, Betty worked at North American, Ellis County Abstract & Title, and Tyler Refrigeration before going to work in the loan department at Citizens National Bank in Waxahachie, where she worked for almost 14 years.  After leaving CNB, she worked in the office at the hospital in Ennis for a few years.

On February 11, 1961, Betty married Arlin G. White.  When Arlin’s custom cabinet and homebuilding business started to flourish, she began working with him handling the financial and interior decorating part of the business.  In their spare time, they could be found fishing on the Llano River in the Hill Country, on the Trinity River in Centerville, TX., or at their lake house on Richland Chambers Lake.

Betty’s other favorite travel destination was Fun Valley in South Ford, Colorado.  For many years, she would load up a few of her friends and drive them to Fun Valley every summer for a week of rest and relaxation.  One time she really spread her wings by going on a trip to Russia and Switzerland with her sister, Mary.

A few of Betty’s favorite pastimes were reading, gardening, working jigsaw puzzles, watching birds outside the window while sitting in her favorite chair, and watching the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, and Texas Rangers on TV.

To say that her passing will leave a huge void in our lives is an understatement.  She will be dearly missed, but will remain in our hearts forever.

The family would like to recognize and thank the following for providing such loving care, companionship, and friendship to our Mother and Grandmother over the last several years:  Mother’s very special niece, Donna Boyd; friends and caregivers Shirley Moore, Peggy Matte, Miriam Moore, Maydell Kyle, and Sharon Lynch.  Enough cannot be said for their devotion to her, nor can the impact they had on her life be measured.  Our gratitude also goes out to Bristol Hospice for their care and concern for Mother over the past two months.

Betty is survived by the following:  Children – Cynthia (Cindy) Huffstetler Kelley and husband Mike of Waxahachie, and Richard Kim Huffstetler and wife Mary Lou of Plano; Step-Children – Larry White and wife Pat of Waxahachie, and Debbie Allen and husband Gary also of Waxahachie; Grandchildren – Angela Kelley Smith of Southlake, TX., Kris Kelley (Mitze) of Waxahachie, Allison Huffstetler (Tameka and Derrick) of Wylie, TX., and Craig Huffstetler (Stephanie and Edward) also of Wylie; Step-Grandchildren – Amy Howdeshell (Greg) of Rockett, TX, and Gary White (Pam) of Waxahachie.  Great-Grandchildren – Colton Kelley, Carson Smith, Sloane Smith, Lucas Kelley, Bailey Wilson, Madeline Huffstetler. Step-Great-Grandchildren -- Myranda Morton, Olivia Morton, Lauren Chester, and Eva Marie White;  Niece – Donna Boyd; Brother-in-law, Bill White (Peggy); Son-in-law Bill Hicks, and numerous other extended family members too numerous to mention.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Arlin, her sisters Mildred Matthews and Mary McCoy, Brothers-in-Law W. L. (Red) Matthews and Bill McCoy, Niece Diane Clayton, Nephew Larry Clayton, and step-daughter Glenda Hicks.

Services to celebrate her life will be held on February 18, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Wayne Boze Funeral Home in Waxahachie with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m.  Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Waxahachie.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the American Heart Association or Alzheimers Association.