Betty Ruth McLaurin

Betty Ruth McLaurin, age 85, went home to be with her Lord Sunday April 18, 2021. She was born September 14, 1935 in Victoria Texas to the late Tollie Audie and Ruth Pearl Thomas. She was married to the love of her life Roy G McLaurin Jr. for 56 wonderful years. It was a true love story. Betty married at age 16 and by age 24, she and Roy had 4 children, Nancy Schmidt (Glenn), Roy McLaurin (Cheryl), Audrey Bell (Noward) of Victoria and Peggie McLaurin of Dripping Springs. She lost an infant daughter Ivy Charlene shortly after her birth. Her brother-in-law, Gary McLaurin (Judy) was 4 years old when Roy and Betty married. He was like a son to her. She always made all of us feel special and much loved.

Betty was a loving and playful Mother who taught her children about Jesus. She was a Bible class teacher as well as a Girls Scout Leader. She was very talented with her hands. She played the guitar; she was an excellent cook; and loved working in her yard. She sang with the singing group “Sweet Adeline’s”. Her nickname was ‘Songbird’ because she always had a song in her heart. She’d say, “I wake up singing, and go to bed singing.” Betty was very active and would exercise including water aerobics. She was a great swimmer and liked to go camping.

She helped the family’s income working as a beautician, and later became a Licensed Vocational Nurse working the night shift at Citizen’s Medical Center. She supported Roy for 2 years while he attended Sunset School of Preaching in Lubbock also working the night shift. Betty used her nursing skills on a medical mission trip to Jamaica. As a couple, they helped establish a church with the Chinese community in Lubbock as well as Chinatown Church of Christ in Los Angeles. She used sign language to communicate with the hearing-impaired community to share Christ. Betty supported her husband as they worked hand in hand to further the Gospel. They served as temporary ministers for the Church in Prince Rupert, Canada.

Mom kept her mind active. For many years, she read through the entire Bible. In her later years, she read her Bible and a devotional daily. She also enjoyed word search puzzle books, computer games as well as watching Family Feud.

With her sweet smile and Christ reflecting in her words and actions, it was easy to love her. She was very puny, meaning she liked to twist words and phrases to make people laugh. If it’s not fun, make it fun! With her child-like demeanor and a heart full of Christ’s love, it’s no wonder children of all ages were drawn to her for her warmth of spirit. Even with arthritis damaging her joints, she’d laugh and say “I’ve renamed it ‘Arth wrongus’ because there’s nothing Right about it!” But you would not hear her complain. She’d say, ‘I might be in pain, but I don’t have to be a pain and I never hurt as much as my Lord.”

Mom loved crosses. She’d say, ‘I’m cross-eyed. I see crosses in everything.’ She also loved butterflies. People would give her butterflies and she cherished every one of them and put them on her bible bag, on her clothes, and in her hair. Mom told a story about placing the ashes of Dad’s brothers on their parents’ grave. She wanted to decorate the grave with flowers and a yellow butterfly. Sadly, she was unable to find a yellow butterfly at the store. They went to the cemetery to intern the ashes, bowed their heads in prayer and when they lifted their heads, God provided REAL yellow butterflies flying near them. From that day, seeing a yellow butterfly, she felt like an angel was watching.

Many nights she would wake up thinking about her family so she would start praying. She prayed without ceasing for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And when she started thinking about death, she’d say, ‘When the Lord is ready for me, Betty is ready!’ and ‘You can’t threaten a Christian with Heaven’.

Betty and Roy sang to each other, ‘Will there be sweethearts in Heaven’. Words in the song say “If I should go first and leave you behind to face life alone, bear this in mind, I’ll be waiting when Heaven’s my fate to take you by the hand just inside the Pearly Gates.” He waited 13 years to take her through the Pearly Gates. They are sweethearts in Heaven today.

Pallbearers: Dustin Schmidt, Trey Bell, Adam McLaurin, Jared McLaurin, Sam McLaurin, Stephen Stone, Bruce Harrison, Tony Ponce

Honorary Pallbearers: Gary McLaurin, Gary W McLaurin Jr, Aaron McLaurin, Joseph McLaurin, David Brogger, Sam Neil, LD Wasicek, JG Musser, Harrison and Sons

On Behalf of the family, we would like to express our gratitude to everyone for your love and support. A big thank you to Jaylynn, Amanda, Sherry, and Natalie. You are “Angels” that took such great care of “Mrs. Betty”. Your kindness and love was a great comfort to us. May God bless you and remember you for your willingness to show your love to her.

We also want to thank Crown Hospice Victoria for the great care provided to our Mom. The faith based care that Mom received was a great comfort. A special note of appreciation for Chaplain Lyman Mereness who sang hymns and read scriptures with her.

Visitation will be held at Central Church of Christ Wednesday, April 28, 2021 beginning 9am. Funeral services at 10am. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Central Church of Christ mission outreach or Crown Hospice.