Betty Rose Hargraves

She is predeceased by her husband, Ellis L. Hargraves, Jr.; her daughter, Jennifer L. Lyons; her mother, Opal C. Beaver; and her sisters, Jo Kegans and Keeter Skelton.

She is survived by her children, Judith C. Powers, Mark C. Hargraves, Scott C. Hargraves, and Jan C. Bramhall; as well as her grandchildren- Cameron, Corey, Ellis and Emily, and several great grandchildren.

Betty Rose graduated Sam Houston High School in 1942 and Texas Women’s University in 1946 with a degree in Journalism. Shortly after graduating, she went to work for the Houston Press as Society Editor, marrying her beloved late husband, Ellis Jr. in May 1947. She was a member of the Houston Press Club. One of her favorite stories was helping open the Shamrock Hilton with Bob Hope as special guest on St. Patrick’s Day, 1949. 50,000 people attended the event. She “retired” in 1950 when she had the twins (Jenny & Judy) and then “Bubba” the following year.

In 1952, she went back to work as the Women’s & Food Editor for The Houston Chronicle, sharing her passion for food and recipes for many years. She took a short break in December 1956 to have her son, Scott.

In 1963, she retired her Journalism career to have her daughter, Jan; planning to stay home and raise her five children. In July 1964, Ellis Jr. was killed in a job site accident, changing their lives forever.

She returned to work in 1964, joining Neuhaus Blumberg Advertising Agency before moving to Winius Brandon, eventually becoming the first female Vice President at that agency. In the early 1980’s, she became the Promotional Director at KIKK radio. She went on to start her own company, The Hargraves Co. in 1986 selling advertising specialty items and enjoyed 25 years of success.

Betty Rose Hargraves was a Native Houstonian, Native American of the Chickasaw Nation and member of The Houston Press Club in the 1940’s. She was a Lifetime Member of The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, becoming the first female Vice Chairman of the Jr. Commercial Steer Committee, holding the position for 10 years and then became a Lifetime Member of that Committee in 2003.

Her passions were: her family- always proud of their accomplishments and disappointments; her friends- she had many young and old; travel- she loved to go both near and far; fishing- she hosted an informal fishing tournament, “The Fishin’ Fools Invitational” and spent countless hours fishing on the North Jetties. She also enjoyed Chili Cook-offs, BBQ Cook-offs, and was always looking for the next party she would host or attend.

In the words of Jimmy Buffett-

“Through 89 years of perpetual motion, If he likes you he’ll smile and he’ll say, Some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic But I had a good life all the way.”

That was BR!