Bettie Sue Smith Turpin

Bettie Sue Smith Turpin, 77, of Kingwood, Texas, fell into the arms of Jesus on Thursday, December 29, 2016, with her family at her side. She was born on October 5, 1939, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Viola and Albert Washington Smith. She was raised in Beaumont in the Baptist Children’s Home from age six until the age of fifteen when she was welcomed into the home of her foster parents, Paul and Lucile Deason.

After Bettie married and had children, she devoted her life to her family which she treasured more than anything. Because she lacked a whole family growing up, it was her life mission to make a happy home. She was a Den Leader to her sons' Boy Scout Troops, Homeroom mom of her children’s classes, and active in her church nursery and Mother’s Day Out programs at First United Methodist Church, all in Lufkin, Texas. Later, she worked for a Neurologist’s office in Houston for nearly twenty years as the office manager. She had a giving heart and was known for her beautiful smile and generosity. She was able to bring joy to all who met her and she was never short of words whether she knew you or not! She enjoyed people and enjoyed getting to know others. By the time you parted from Bettie, you were no longer strangers. Bettie was a caring daughter and sister, devoted wife for 37 years to Jack and his care-taker these past 14 years after he fell ill, she was a great mother to Mike, Robert and Julie, and she was a fun-spirited grandmother (MeMa) to her seven grandchildren and a dear friend to many.

Bettie was preceded in death by her parents listed above, her sisters, Louise Smith, Nancy Deason, Mary Jo Deason Reyes and her other siblings: Curtis, JD, Fred, Walter, Guy, Jewel, Leroy, Bertha and Opal; all from the Beaumont area. Also her daughter-in-law, Barbara Koehl McCarley of Austin and her nephew Todd (Reyes) Deason, and many other extended family members.

Bettie will be missed by those she left behind which include her husband, Jack Turpin of Kingwood, her children: Mike McCarley and his wife, Shari of Bryan; Robert McCarley of Austin; Julie McCarley Trimnal and her husband, Billy of Bryan; her seven grandchildren: Ashley McCarley, Carley Trimnal, Colin McCarley, Makynzie Trimnal, Kate McCarley, Jayde Trimnal, and Adilyn Trimnal. As well as numerous nieces and nephews and in-laws that she loved dearly.

In Bettie’s own words of her life: God is good! I give Him the praise!