Betty Morton Basye

Betty was born to John V. and Willie Auvena (Hufstedler) Morton in Big Spring, Texas, on September 13, 1936. She was the youngest of their three children. Her siblings were John Douglas Morton and Edith Morton Watson.

Betty's family moved to Levelland, Texas, early in her childhood where she attended public schools. In seventh grade, Betty met the love of her life, Kenneth Basye. She graduated from Levelland High School in 1955 as the valedictorian of her senior class. After attending Abilene Christian College for a semester, she returned to Levelland to marry Kenneth on February 4, 1956. Despite a record-breaking snowstorm, Kenneth and Betty made it to the church and were married.

Kenneth and Betty made their home in Levelland where Betty worked as a bookkeeper at the M&M Oldsmobile Dealership. She worked there for many years. Betty was also active in the church and community where she and Kenneth raised their three children, Teddy Lee, Tommy Ray, and Terri Ann on the family’s cotton farm north of Levelland. It was on the farm where Betty’s children learned many important lessons about the value of faith, hard work, family, and fun. During those years, Betty continued her collegiate studies at Lubbock Christian College. In 1973, she graduated with her degree in education. She then entered the classroom as a teacher – first teaching business classes for a year in Smyer in 1974, and then teaching computer keyboarding to every seventh grader at Levelland Middle School from 1984 until 1992. In 1993, Betty returned to helping her husband on the family’s cotton farm.

Betty spent her life serving others. She loved teaching the preschool Bible classes and Vacation Bible School classes at Austin Street Church of Christ. She also used her talents to teach Ladies’ Bible Class and to teach the campers at White River Youth Camp. Betty served in other ways as well. She worked for many years alongside her husband at the Blessing Center at Greenlawn Church of Christ preparing clothes and other items to be donated to others. Betty was also a generous giver. Many were immensely blessed by her generosity as she sought to share her blessings with others.

After Betty and Kenneth retired from teaching, they spent time traveling the country. Seeing the sights from Alaska to California and North Carolina to Mississippi, but their favorite places to visit where wherever their grandchildren were active in sporting or musical events. Betty and Kenneth seemed to make it to every event and were known to get there early in order to meet the team buses on their arrival.

Betty was an extremely talented woman. She was tough and tender, wise and witty. She could keep books, chop cotton, sew pajamas for the grandchildren, knit Christmas stockings, make the best macaroni and cheese, can peas and beans from her garden, and make pies for the Lubbock Children’s Home once a month. Her favorite days were spent folding diapers, raising babies, watching her children’s ballgames, raising baby pigs and bulldog puppies, serving at church, and traveling with Kenneth anywhere he wanted to go.

Betty is survived by her two sons, Teddy L. Basye and wife, Amy, of Sweetwater, Texas, and Tommy R. Basye and wife, Cherise, of Lubbock, Texas; one daughter, Terri (Basye) Stark and husband, Larry, of Lubbock, Texas; nine grandchildren, Austin Basye, Jatawn Mahan, Tyson Basye, Aryn Withrow, Jordan Basye, Teal Dennis, Danae Jackson, Jon Basye, and Kendon Stark; six great-grandchildren, Asher Basye, Eaven Basye, Arnhem Jackson, Shirley Jackson, Kenna Jackson, and Elsie Jackson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family of Betty Basye would especially like to thank those who have so lovingly helped us with her care. Misty Guelker was truly a Godsend for us while Betty was in Sweetwater, and the staff at Adam’s Assisted Living in Wolfforth provided exceptional care for the last year and a half.

There will be a family visitation on Friday evening, February 28, 2025, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Resthaven Funeral Home in Lubbock. The memorial service will be held at Greenlawn Church of Christ Lubbock, Texas, on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. and burial will follow at the City of Levelland Cemetery in Levelland, Texas, at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials for Betty Basye be made to White River Youth Camp, 5522 27th Street, Lubbock, Texas 79407, or to the Blessing Center at Greenlawn Church of Christ, 5701 19th Street, Lubbock, Texas 79407.