Betty Jo Kerr Moberly

Betty Jo Kerr Moberly was born on January 10, 1929, in El Paso, Texas, to Josephine Robinson and Joseph Neal Kerr, Sr., and died peacefully December 19, 2021, in Dallas, Texas.

She was raised in Sanderson, Texas, where she graduated from Sanderson High School in 1945. Betty Jo attended one year at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio before graduating from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1950.

After college, Betty Jo taught two years in the Sanderson Elementary School. In the fall of 1953, she accepted a teaching position in Midland, Texas. While teaching in Midland, she met George Allen Moberly, an independent oil operator, and they married on September 11, 1954, at St. James Catholic Church in Sanderson. During their 35 years of marriage, they raised two daughters in Midland and made many lifelong friends. At the age of 62, Betty was suddenly widowed, but continued to live in Midland twenty years before moving to Dallas to be near family.

Betty Jo was a faithful Roman Catholic and served at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Midland in various capacities, such as CCD Sunday school teacher, altar guild member and the “Catholics for Life” organization. A couple of her fondest memories were traveling with the St. Ann’s church choir to Rome to sing for the Pope and a parish trip to Israel. She lived passionately for her faith, family, friends and country and was extremely patriotic and proud of her four brothers’ and husband’s military service during WWII and Korea.

Betty Jo was an active and sustained member in the Junior League in Midland and later in Dallas. She drove Meals on Wheels for 20 years, and she enjoyed her involvement in the Investment Club, Wednesday Club, Study Club and her bridge and poker groups. She was always available for her family and friends. Betty Jo was an avid sports fan and particularly enjoyed cheering for every school team attended by her family. For the last ten years she lived at the Edgemere Senior Independent Living Community in Dallasm where she continued an active life making many new friends.

Mimi (her grandmother name) was a devoted grandmother of five and great-grandmother of nine. Her family would tease her that every time they asked how she was doing, she would reply, “I’m busy, busy, busy!” Mimi was always available, interested, helpful, generous and will be greatly missed.

Betty Jo is preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her four brothers: Joe Neal Kerr, Campbell Kerr, Edward Kerr and James Kerr; sisters-in-law Patricia Allen Kerr, Rosella Mitchell Kerr, Totsie Adams Kerr and Mimi Biedler Kerr.

Surviving Family: daughter, Susan Moberly Friedman and husband, Alan; daughter, Mary Moberly Thompson and husband Scott; grandchildren Bayard Friedman and wife Becky, Cheney Friedman Beshara and husband James. Kerr Friedman and wife Julie, George Thompson, Collins Thompson and wife Catherine; nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

***The family regrets that due to COVID restrictions, the Edgemere reception will be for Edgemere residents only*** A memorial reception will be held at the Edgemere Lobby, 8523 Thackery Street, Dallas, on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at 4 p.m. A memorial mass to celebrate Betty Jo’s life will be held at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Midland, Texas on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at 12 noon with a reception following at the Petroleum Club in Midland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

The family would like to thank Nelia Changa for her faithful service, Blanquita and Ed Chionglo who brought communion to her apartment so many Sunday mornings and to the nurses and staff at the

T. Boone Pickens Hospice Center.