Betty Ruth West

Betty Ruth (Massey) West, 84, was born on November 11, 1940 in Austin, Texas. She entered the Kingdom of Heaven on July 5, 2025, beside her two sons, Doug West and Gary Traugott, during the Leander Sandy Creek Flood.

Betty lived in Leander for 47 years and was a loving wife to her husband of 43 years, George West; a guiding light, advisor and voice of reason to her 6 kids; and a "fun" Grandma to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Betty made a ritual of reading her kids a storybook every night and changing her voice for each character so they would know who was talking. She was the ultimate social butterfly and never met a stranger. She kept everybody entertained with her quick-witted humor and the way she would tell stories. People automatically drew to her magnetic personality and were often blessed with her wisdom before the conversation ended. She went all out for the holidays and had a real talent for decorating.

Betty enjoyed oil painting, gardening, singing, shopping and watching Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. Chinese food and a diet caffeine-free Coke was her favorite meal.

After retirement at 57, Betty took pleasure in babysitting grandkids and sitting in the backyard listening to the creek peacefully flow. Her greatest concern was that all of her family would make it to Heaven.

Betty attended Glad Tidings Church (formerly Grace Alive) in Liberty Hill, requesting that Pastor Dawn perform her funeral service when the time came.

To forever cherish her memory, Betty leaves behind her children: daughter, Sherry McCutcheon of Manor, Texas; daughter, Terry Traugott of Manor, Texas; son, Chip Traugott of Austin, Texas; sister, Debby LaFrance of Jarrell, Texas; sister-in-law, Opal Lambert of Liberty Hill, Texas; 7 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and a host of family and friends, too numerous to mention but not forgotten.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, George West of Leander, Texas; son, Doug West of Leander, Texas; son, Gary Traugott of Leander, Texas; daughter, Denise West-Cushing of Leander, Texas; grandson, Lee McCutcheon of Austin, Texas; brother, Cecil Dale Massey of Silsbee, Texas; and her parents, Harvey and Ruth (Lankford) Massey of Austin, Texas.

Visitation will be held Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 1:00pm, with Celebration of Life services beginning at 2:00pm at Glad Tidings Church at 16030 TX-29 in Liberty Hill, Texas. Interment will follow at Bagdad Cemetery in Leander, Texas at 400 N Bagdad Road. Services will be livestreamed at https://vimeo.com/event/5340063