Elizabeth "Beth" Petter

Beth passed away Tuesday August 26th. She was born on January 10th, 1939 in Newgulf, Wharton County, Texas to James Arthur (Jim) Mahavier and Alelia Foster Otto Mahavier. She was named Elizabeth Lorraine Mahavier after her two grandmothers, Elizabeth (Lizzie) White Otto and Emma Lorraine Eidlebach Mahavier. Elizabeth was a tiny, sweet baby and that long name did not seem to fit, so she has always been ‘Beth’. She was quite a tomboy, and nothing was too high for her to climb, but coming down was a different matter and she often needed help. Newgulf was a company town of the Texas Gulf Sulfur Company, and the largest sulfur mine in Texas during World War II. Jim was in the electrical department, rising to Electrical Supervisor by the time he retired in 1963. Sulfur mining was a critical war industry and some of Beth’s earliest memories were of the town blackouts that happened quite often.

Beth attended Boiling Independent Schools for all 12 grades, played clarinet in the band, and graduated in the class of 1957. She attended Wharton County Junior College and received an Associates degree in Secretarial-Bookkeeping in 1959. Beth worked as a Bookkeeper for the Hungerford ISD prior to getting married. Beth joined the First Baptist Church of Newgulf at the age of 10. She was a devout follower of Jesus and believed in Salvation through faith in Christ.

At WCJC she met a classmate of her brother David, by the name of Robert Ray (Bobby) Petter from West Columbia. A romance ensued that lasted through Bobby’s attendance at The University of Texas where he earned a BS in Civil Engineering, and his time in the Army where he performed special weapons testing. The couple were married in July 1964, and Bobby made his career with the US Army Corps of Engineers.

In December 1968, Beth’s only child, a son named Robert Ray (Rob) Petter Jr was born. The family lived in La Marque, Houston, Ft Worth, Clear Lake City, and Stephens City, Virginia. In 1987, Rob left home to attend Texas A&M University where he earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Beth and Bobby moved to Dickinson. Beth was a devoted mother and homemaker. She was active in the PTA and was a Den Leader while Rob was in Cub Scouts and Webelos. Beth helped with many school plays, fundraisers, and events. Beth’s other joy was gardening and keeping a tidy yard, which she did wherever she lived.

In 1991, Beth moved to Houston, joined Second Baptist Church, and became employed in the Membership Record Keeping department. Her first office was in the building with the steeple and cross, and she enjoyed saying that she “worked at the foot of the cross”. Beth and Bobby were divorced in 1992. Beth worked at Second Baptist for 20 years, retiring in 2011.

In 2013 Beth moved into a house down the street from Rob, a situation she enjoyed immensely. She spent many a day raking leaves and tending to her yard and Rob’s. She loved being so close to her son and the two of them took good care of one another. Beth proudly lived independently until the day she passed away peacefully, after a brief illness.

Interment is planned in the Old Salem Cemetery, Waller County, Texas. The cemetery land was donated to the community by her 2nd great grandfather Thomas Banister White. TB White’s wife, Elizabeth Shepard Kirby White (namesake of Lizzie White), her father Henry Kirby, and several other relatives are buried in Old Salem Cemetery.

Beth was preceded in death by her husband Bobby Petter, her two older brothers James Mahavier Jr and David Mahavier, and her cousin Nona Otto Bailey. Beth is survived by her son Robert (Rob) Petter Jr of Houston; a niece Gloria Beth Mahavier Crocket of Bay City; a niece Deborah Mahavier Jones and David of Dobbin; a nephew Jay Mahavier and Suzanne of Austin; three cousins Harold Otto and Debra, Claud Albert Brown and Jan, and Linda Haslund and Rodney; and several grand nephews and nieces.

Visitation services for Beth will be Thursday, September 4th, from 4:00 to 6:00pm at Waltrip Funeral Directors. Burial will follow at a later date.