Beth Pezanosky

Beth Pezanosky left this world on December 1, 2023. She went quickly and peacefully, surrounded by her children. Beth was fully prepared to move on and looked forward to joining her husband in eternity with her Lord.

Beth grew up on a farm in rural Henderson County, Texas, in the unincorporated community of Aley. After losing her father at an early age, she worked with her mother and siblings to raise livestock and crops and to run their home, all while excelling as a student and athlete at Kemp High School. While attending Texas Women’s University in Denton, Beth met a young Airman, Tom Pezanosky, who was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base. Beth and “Pez” were married on Valentine’s Day in 1960 in the Cathedral Guadalupe in downtown Dallas. From there, they moved to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, where they had 3 children in a span of 32 months – Tom, Jr., Cathy and Steve.

The Pezanosky crew moved to Yokota Airbase in Japan in 1966, before settling back to Texas at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls in 1969. It was there that Beth and Pez sunk down roots and raised their family. Beth loved being a wife and mother, and she was exceptional at both (traits that she would later replicate as a grandmother). Her home and her kitchen were always open to everyone. She was a great cook and an even better card player. Money was tight in those days, and Beth was a working mother, who often held down 2 jobs while also running their home. Beth instilled life-long values in her children by modeling love for the Lord, service toward others, protection of her family, hard work and the importance of education.

As their kids grew into adulthood, Beth and Pez were transferred to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, where they spent the better part of 20 years. In retirement, they came back to Texas and established a loving home on the golf course at White Bluff on Lake Whitney. Beth welcomed and fed her children and grandchildren at that home for almost 20 years, along with countless other family and friends. Importantly, she treated her kids’ spouses as if they were her own children. Her love for others flowed through her selfless conduct, as she always lifted others up and put herself last. And she was incredibly proud that all 3 of her kids graduated from college: Tom a CPA, Cathy a nurse, and Steve a lawyer.

Beth devoted herself to caring for Pez in his later years as he struggled with a failing heart and Parkinson’s disease – all while dealing with her own medical issues. They moved to St Francis Village in Fort Worth in 2012 to be closer to family and medical care. Beth never complained and always downplayed her own ailments. After Pez passed in 2014, Beth remained in their home at St Francis Village, where she lived actively and independently and enjoyed her community of friends. During that time, she was also able to travel and expand lifetime memories with her children and grandchildren as the matriarch of her family. Beth was a special lady, and she will be missed. She will live on in this world in the hearts of all her family and friends. And she will wait impatiently for us in the next with Pez and our Lord.

Beth was preceded in death by her parents, James and Edna Patterson; her husband Tom Pezanosky, Sr.; her brothers, James and Joe Patterson; and her sisters, Mary Henson and Zella Faye Jedlicka. She is survived by her children and their spouses -- Tom and Pam Pezanosky, Cathy and Tom Ono, and Steve Pezanosky and Christy Jack; her grandchildren and their spouses -- Karl and Jordain Ono, Clayton and Morgan Ono, Thomas and Jillian Pezanosky, Meredith Pezanosky, Christopher Pezanosky and Jack Pezanosky; her great grandson -- Oliver Ono; and her siblings – Willa Pruitt and Bill Patterson.