Bettie Marie Bayne

Bettie was born to Lee Davis Hightower and Virdie Orum Hightower on May 25, 1928 in Mannsville, Oklahoma. She attended the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, Texas. She married David Barrington in Austin and they moved to Corpus Christi and together they raised their daughter, Judy. The marriage did not last, however, they remained close until David’s passing. During Bettie’s second marriage to William Bayne, they raised Judy along with the two sons they had together, Bobby and Randy, their marriage lasted until William passed in 1989.

Bettie worked at the Corpus Christi Army Depot as an industrial upholstery seamstress where she received recognition and award for ideas to improve excellence in production. She retired in 1989.

Bettie was a lifelong member of The Deaf Club and a member of the Silver Silent Senior Citizens where she enjoyed playing games and socializing with other deaf senior citizens, many of whom were longtime friends. She also enjoyed sewing, upholstery, crocheting, knitting, bingo, going to garage sales, antiquing, playing dominoes and visiting museums. She could bring a smile, even during the most difficult times, that would melt your heart with her kind, loving and generous nature. She was a very strong woman who lived through difficult times with perseverance and determination. She would sign I love to everyone she met and I Love You were her last words.

She is survived by her daughter and son, Judy Allen and Randy Bayne (Tina), sister Geri Bass, grandchildren Sherry Frederick (Stephen), Dawn Allen (Eric Shelton), Kimberly Tajchman (Brian), Nicole Bayne, Lacey Bayne, Christian Bayne, Brandon Bayne, great grandchildren Dalton Allen, Atlantis Allen, Hailee Huddleston, Shelby Bayne, Jacoby Bayne, Bailey Bayne, Ashby Bayne, stepdaughter Mary Buchanan, step granddaughter Lynette Garcia, Nephew Wally Walker (Tammy) and family. Bettie was preceded in death by husband William Bayne, son Bobby Bayne, granddaughter Annette Allen, sister Linda Cooper, son-in-law Bob Allen and step granddaughter Michelle Bryant.

Her funeral is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on July 30, 2025 at Memory Gardens Funeral Home located at 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415. A memorial gathering in lieu of a reception will be held at a later date.

The family requests that donations in lieu of flowers be made to The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center (www.deafhhcenter.org).

The family would like to thank the hospital and hospice doctors and nurses who cared for her during her final days and everyone who has reached out and supported all of us during this difficult time.