Elizabeth "Betsy" Janet Barberree

The Stad family moved from Brooklyn to Long Island in 1945. Betsy graduated from High School in Wantaugh, New York at the age of 16 in 1957, then attended Cortland State Teachers College in Cortland, New York, earning a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She met her first husband, Mark Wilson, in high school and they married after college on June 23, 1962. They had two children and lived in Columbus, Ohio and Wilmington, Delaware before moving to Orange, Texas in 1971. Betsy and Mark divorced in 1973, so Betsy resumed her career as a teacher to support her children. As a single mother for 17 years, she led an extraordinary life balancing her work, family, faith, and many friendships. Betsy also enrolled in a master’s program at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and earned her master’s degree in 1987.

In the next chapter of Betsy’s life, she and long-time friend Dan Barberree reconnected and began dating in the late 1980’s. They were married in 1989 and moved to Kingwood, Texas in 1991. The couple shared a very strong Christian faith and love of God and country. They were very active in Kingwood United Methodist Church and participated in multiple choirs, bible study groups, and Betsy served as a Stephen Minister.

Education was always a true passion of Betsy’s. She continued to teach elementary school in Kingwood at Elm Grove Elementary until she retired after 31 years in her profession. She remained involved in education by joining the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), a sisterhood of women with a mission to help women around the world advance through educational scholarships, grants, awards, and loans.

As they aged, Dan and Betsy did not slow down. They remained physically active, spent time with family and friends, and traveled extensively. They cherished their driving trips to visit and hike the National Parks, often camping in their trusty Isuzu Rodeo SUV. They also took numerous cruises to see Hawaii, Norway, and the Panama Canal as well as trips to the Holy Land and Europe. Family trips to the beach in Texas and Florida were also favorite destinations.

Betsy’s legacy is written on the hearts of all who knew her: children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors, all of her students, co-workers, and fellow volunteers. We miss Betsy terribly - her wisdom, faith, laughter, infectious smile and hugs, but we know she is now free from Alzheimer’s disease and reunited with Dan, other family, and friends who preceded her in death.

Betsy is survived by her daughter Cindy Adamo (Johnny) and son Jeff Wilson (Vicki Wilson); Dan’s 3 children: daughter Joel Smith (Kelly), son David Barberree (Stephanie), son Dean Barberree (Tisha); 13 grandchildren Jordan Adamo Carlson (Blake), Jacob Adamo (Victoria), Caroline Wilson Stadval (Steve), Addison Smith, Kennedy Smith, Andrew, Spencer, Makena, Carly, Mason, Megan, Madison, Maddox (all Barberrees); her brother Jeff Stad (Barbara); and her first husband, Mark Wilson.

Words cannot adequately express our gratitude for the love and attention of Betsy’s caregivers the last several years, especially Cathy Gilliland, Daisy Barron, Erma Trejos, Omnix Home Health Care Services in Kingwood, Riva Ridge Assisted Living in Austin, and Choice Hospice of Austin.

The visitation will be Friday, April 5, at Kingwood Methodist Church, 1799 Woodland Hills Dr., Kingwood, TX 77339. Family will be received from 5:00pm - 5:30pm, friends are welcome from 5:30pm - 8:00pm. The funeral will be held Saturday, April 6, at 2:00pm at Kingwood Methodist Church with reception and private burial following.

Betsy will be laid to rest at Brookside Cemetery, near Kingwood, next to Dan and near her parents. If you so choose to honor Betsy’s legacy in lieu of flowers, please contribute donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/) or Kingwood Methodist Church (https://kingwoodmethodist.org/give/).

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