Elizabeth Lewis Bettie Lew Root Jones

Elizabeth Lewis Bettie Lew Root Jones of San Antonio, Texas, died at Christopher House in Austin, Texas on July 19, 2011 at the age of 87. She was born on December 18, 1923 in Burnet, Texas to Jesse Albert Root, Sr. and his wife Maria Lewis Johnson Root. The Roots retired to Austin in 1957. Bettie Lew was a descendant of Thomas Roote who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1637. Her maternal ancestor was John Woodson who arrived in the colony of Virginia in 1619. Her great-grandfather was Brigadier General Adam Johnson, founder of Marble Falls, Texas.

She was married to the Rev. Christopher Jones, Jr., a descendant of the Clarkson family of Charlotte, North Carolina. The Rev. Jones served on the clergy staff of St. Luke's Episcopal Church and as headmaster of St. Luke's Episcopal School, San Antonio, for many years.

Bettie Lew belonged to the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Jamestown Society, and Colonial Dames of XVII Century.

The Roots lived in Paraguay and Argentina during the 1930's - 1950's while Mr. Root was President of Anderson Clayton Cotton Company, SA. Bettie Lew attended high school at the American Grammar and High School in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She earned a degree at the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority and where she later was a "Living Legend" of the Ex-Students Association. She also obtained a Master's Degree at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, and graduated from Katherine Gibbs, Boston, Massachusetts.

In San Antonio she first taught at Saint Mary's Hall where she was awarded Cum Laude and the Jamie Armstrong Bennett award. Bettie Lew then taught at the Texas Military Institute.

After her retirement, she became a docent at the McNay Art Museum, a board member of the Houston Grand Opera, and belonged to the Daughters of the King as well as maintaining an active interest in St. Luke's Episcopal School.

Bettie Lew was predeceased by her husband of 37 years, the Rev. Christopher Jones, Jr., her parents, her brother Jesse Root Jr., her cousin Dr. Bob Morrison and wife Verna Mae, and her cousin Mary Virginia Donaldson Carter.

She is survived by; daughters, Elizabeth Lewis Jones Coffin and husband Roderick F. Coffin II of Austin and Caroline Clarkson Jones of Austin; grandsons, Christopher Jones Coffin of Austin and Roderick F. Coffin III and wife Jennifer of Atlanta; cousin, Ross Johnson and wife Alice of Marble Falls and Burnet; nieces and nephew, Mary Virginia Root Dowdle, Carolyn Root Daugherty, Jesse Root III and Amy Root Clements; and her dear companion, Al Sutton of New Orleans.

SERVICE

MONDAY, JULY 25, 2011

10:00 AM

ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

11 ST. LUKE'S LANE

Donations in her memory may be made to St. Luke's Episcopal School, 11 St. Luke's Lane, San Antonio, Texas 78209; St. Mary's Hall, 9401 Starcrest Drive, San Antonio, Texas, 78217; the McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio, Texas, 78209; or Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78759.