Bettie Gray Stansell

Bettie Gray Nix Stansell, age 92, unexpectedly passed from this life and into the arms of her loving Father on May 15, 2012. She was a devoted and dedicated Christian mother, a loving wife, and a remarkably active grandmother, and a proud great grandmother.

Bettie Gray was the only child born to Bess and Henry Clay Nix in Cisco, Texas on August 1, 1919. She loved her parents and her early years growing up in Cisco and Olden very much. Around that time the roaring Ranger oil field was opened up and this part of Texas blossomed. Her father operated a grocery store there and as a child she was often found working inside with her father. She often talked about going to the world-class zoo outside of Lake Cisco where she was able to entertain herself watching the different creatures they had on display there. She was one of the few proud graduates from Olden high School. After high school, she took the train West some 45 miles away to Abilene where she graduated from Abilene Christian College in 1941. After graduation she worked full time as a teacher in Anson and traveled back and forth to Abilene volunteering as a dental assistant at Camp Barkley before WWII. On a whim she was paired up with an Army Officer, named John Stansell from Mart, Texas for a blind date and the two hit it off. They dated constantly over the coming months and their relationship blossomed. On a special Easter Sunday, April 5, 1942, Bettie Gray Nix married 2nd Lt. John A. Stansell in a crossed saber military wedding at the post chapel there at Camp Barkley outside Abilene. As a new bride she followed John and his army postings to Pine Camp, New York where they were able to enjoy the snow and learning how to snow ski. When John received orders overseas, Bettie went back to Texas staying with her parents until John returned from the war and his POW status.

After the war, Bettie and John took up residence in Houston in 1950 and finally moved to a small community on the outskirts of Houston named Bellaire. At the time there were just rice paddies and bayous there. Bettie and John had three sons and very quickly became involved in the parenting and activities of these boys which ranged from hosting fund raising PTA Spaghettti Suppers, to providing leadership in Indian Guides, Cub Scouting, sports of all kinds and teaching Bible classes at Central and Southwest Churches of Christ. Bettie loved to travel and to experience all kinds of activities. It was not uncommon for her to visit the library, a museum, listen to outdoor concerts, or spend a day at the beach when the time afforded her the opportunity. The family loved to camp outdoors and usually each summer she packed and loaded up the station wagon and Nimrod trailer and the family headed to Montana, California, or Florida. She especially enjoyed the special camping outings with the other young families at Southwest Church of Christ. These great times were North of Houston at the Double Lake Park. Many weekends were spent there with Bettie swimming with her sons all day and playing Bridge by the light of a skillfully placed Coleman Lantern all night. She loved being around others and could walk into a room of strangers and make friends within moments. She belonged to the local stamp and button club, several women’s civic clubs, Scottish Rite, Heather and Thistle, Garden Clubs and many more, and held numerous offices of several of those organizations. She was a regular docent at the Houston cottages downtown at Sam Houston Heritage Park. One organization that she was especially proud of being associated with, was the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRTs). The DRTs are very difficult to join because membership is contingent upon being related to a Texas descendant. Therefore, it was with great honor when she was allowed to join the DRTs and prove through her careful Genealogical Studies that not only was she a direct descendant of Texas but she was also a direct descendant of a soldier/physician/Church of Christ Preacher named Mansil Matthews, who fought at the Battle of San Jacinto and attended the wounds of General Sam Houston! She loved her genealogy and that she had direct ties to the brave soldiers and families that fought for Texas Independence. Bettie cherished this because she loved being a Texan and truly loved the State of Texas.

Bettie’s husband, John Stansell preceded her in death January 11, 2005. Bettie is survived by her three sons, Arthur Stansell of Houston, Gray Stansell of Bellaire and Glenda Stansell of Pasadena, and Jerry Stansell and his wife Robin of Abilene. She is also survived by grandchildren, Jason Stansell and his wife Maria, Heather Morris and her husband James, Melanie Doyle and her husband Marc, Taylor Stansell and his wife Holly, and Chelsea, Clay and Katie, and also great grand children Ashlyn, Layton, Harrison, and Miles.