Betty Jean Renfro

Betty Jean Renfro, age 94, passed away on Tuesday, December 2 in Longview, TX. She was born on August 11, 1931, in Dalby Springs, TX, to K.C. and Hazel Tutt. Betty was raised in De Kalb, TX, and graduated from De Kalb High school in 1948.

She married R.C. Renfro on June 3, 1950, in Corsicana, TX and the couple had three children, Mike and Wendi Renfro, Debbie and Richard Thrush and Pam and Jim Dillinger. From these three children they had seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Grandchildren are Jennifer LeBlanc, Matt Renfro, Laura Groth, Heath Gamble, Hannah Higgins, Alex Dillinger and Brittney Wilkie. Great grandchildren are Sam LeBlanc, Miklyn and Bella Renfro, Grace and Emory Groth, Hunter and Emma Higgins.

Betty was a “Homemaker Extraordinaire”. She was an amazing cook and prepared three meals a day until she was 85+ years old. No one ever went hungry at Memaw’s house. She clothed her children until they were in high school with her exemplary sewing skills. She even made most of her own dresses and pantsuits in the sixties and seventies. Then she discovered shopping! She never got tired of “running out to Dillard’s”. Up until her 94th birthday the highlight of her days was when Pam brought in a new shirt from Dillard’s.

Her happiest activity was going to church. She was an active member of Mobberly Baptist Church in Longview, TX, for the last 50 years of her life. Before that she was a member at First Baptist Church, Grand Prairie, TX and Hampton Road Baptist Church, De Soto, TX.

At Mobberly Baptist Church, she and R.C. established many friendships and had a special group called “The Old Friends Group”. They met together monthly for 40-50 years to celebrate birthdays and holidays.

Betty was always known as a social butterfly, which is a polite way to say that she talked a lot! She loved to visit with her friends from church and her neighbors in Paverstone Housing Addition. She never met a stranger and could strike up a conversation with anyone. She spent her last four years at Arabella Independent and Assisted Living where she met both old and new friends. The family appreciates all the loving care from the caregivers at Arabella and from Heartsway Hospice. They all made her last few years happy ones.

A short visitation will be the hour prior to the funeral service, held at Lakeview Funeral Home, located at 5000 West Harrison Road, Longview, TX, 75604, United States, on December 9, 2025, with the funeral service starting at 2:00 pm.