Elizabeth Ann (Jacobi Randall

Elizabeth Ann "Betty" (Jacobi) Randall, age 86, of Austin, passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2007. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Palmer "Randy" Randall, her two brothers, Albert and James, and her parents. Elizabeth Ann Jacobi, known to all her friends as "Betty", grew up in a country home, in Molino, Florida, 28 miles north of Pensacola in the Florida panhandle. She was born on April 23, 1920, the daughter of J. Albert Jacobi and Ruth Avera (Coons) Jacobi. After graduation from Pensacola High School in 1938, Betty went to Huntington Women Methodist College, in Montgomery, Alabama, for one year before returning to her home state of Florida. Betty then attended Florida State College at Tallahassee, Florida, an "all girl's school", where she pledged the Alpha Zeta Delta Sorority and was the president of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Betty received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with minors in Voice and Elementary Education in 1942. She was college-certified to teach music, voice, elementary education, kindergarten and horseback riding. She taught 6th grade from 1942 through 1944 in the elementary schools of the Escambia County School District in Pensacola. Summers were spent as a counselor at a girl's camp where she directed sports, and taught crafts, horseback riding, and waterfront activities. Elizabeth Ann Jacobi American Red Cross During World War II, Betty joined the American Red Cross for training in their school of Military Welfare service. After graduation from the Red Cross Training School in Washington, D.C., Betty was assigned to the Don Ce-Sar Army Air Force Convalescent Hospital near St. Petersburg, Florida. Her job was to supervise handicrafts, games, sports and entertainment during rest and rehabilitation provided for combat-fatigued air force servicemen. During this time, Betty met Louis Palmer "Randy" Randall, a young man with Air Force Wings and overseas ribbons pinned to his uniform, who had returned to the Don Ce-Sar for assignment as the athletic director. Randy proceeded to sweep Betty off her feet and lured her to Texas for marriage on December 1, 1945. Betty and Randy were married by the Reverend Joseph Harte in the All Saints Episcopal Chapel on the University of Texas Campus in Austin, Texas. They have three sons, Jack, Jim, and Jeff. Betty was the founder of the Church of the Resurrection Episcopal school and directress for 14 years. Later the Austin Independent School District hired Betty as a kindergarten teacher at Pillow Elementary School and during this time, Betty obtained a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Texas at Austin. Some 28 of her 39 years teaching experience was at the kindergarten level. Betty received the AISD Teacher of the Year award in 1985. Her hobbies included all types of handiwork such as crocheting, knitting, sewing, and lead and copper work. Betty's favorite hobby was oil painting. Betty had a lifelong interest in the environment, all animals and creatures, any form of nature and general science. Randy and Betty also raised AKC Irish Setters for many years. Betty is survived by her three sons, Jack P. Randall, and his wife, Beverly, of Houston, Texas; James L. Randall, and his wife, Del, of Austin, Texas; and Jeff A. Randall, and his wife, Cynthia, of Pipe Creek, Texas. Betty has six grandchildren: Jaclyn Suzanne Randall, Jess Palmer Randall, Joshua W. Randall, Jena E. Randall, Texas Ann (Randall) Durham and husband, Bo Durham and Elizabeth Ashley (Randall) Sarver and husband, Brad Sarver. Betty has one great-grandchild, Keaton Blake Sarver. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 22nd at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 23, 2007 in the Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made to The University of Texas at Austin. These funds will be used to establish a scholarship in the College of Education. The remembrances should be sent to: The University of Texas at Austin, c/o The Elizabeth Randall Scholarship Fund, College of Education, 1 University Station D-5000, Austin, TX 78712. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com