Monday, August 29, 2022 at the age of 87 years. Betty passed peacefully, surrounded by her daughters, Deborah and Beverly. Life celebration and funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church of Austin, Texas on Saturday, September 3 at 10 am.
Betty Masters was born in White Oak, Oklahoma on January 14, 1935, to John Charles Masters and Thelma Mae Cole Masters. Betty experienced loss at the age of 2 when her father, John, died after helping rescue trapped coal miners. After graduating from Miami High School with honors and NEO A&M, Betty married her high school sweetheart and together they attended Oklahoma State University. Betty and HA graduated from OSU in 1957, Betty with a teaching degree, and HA with a chemical engineering degree. Betty taught elementary school and HA worked in the oil & gas industry at Texaco in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Deborah Elizabeth was born in 1959 and Beverly Ann was born in 1961. The family transferred to Long Beach, California in 1961 and then to Puerto Rico in 1965. While there, Betty was recruited to teach in the Salvation Army school in Ponce. After a couple of years in Puerto Rico, the family moved to Europe, first to the Netherlands, then to Belgium. The family toured Europe extensively on holidays, having many adventures in their little green VW bus. London, England was a favorite destination. In 1974 the family moved to Houston. In addition to raising the girls, Betty found time to be active in the American Academy of University Women, Fair Haven United Methodist Church, a gourmet dinner club and a square-dancing club. She worked for many years at Foley’s, ultimately becoming the assistant director of HR. Later, she taught second grade at a private school. With retirement, Betty and HA moved to Austin in 1996 to be closer to family. HA preceded Betty in death in 2001.
As a widow, Betty remained active with family, First United Methodist Church, the Wedding Ring Sunday School class, Emmaus reunion group and the Tejas Storytelling Association where she served on the board and as president. Betty also loved to travel and sponsored many family trips, including to the Caribbean, Africa, Russia, Alaska, England and the Mediterranean so that the entire family could explore the world as a group. Parkinson’s Disease limited Betty’s mobility for the last few years of her life, but she continued to make friends and inspire others. She will be missed.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Alexander Berkey, Jr., her infant son, William Sherman Berkey; and two brothers, Thomas Spencer and Jack Spencer. She will be lovingly remembered by Deborah & Scott Wilder; Beverly & Randall Grimshaw; her grandchildren John Grimshaw & Catherine Crim Grimshaw; Tim Grimshaw; and Jacob Wilder and her new great grandson Levi Grimshaw. Her surviving siblings include Robert Spencer, Martha Spencer Jackson, and Richard Spencer.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to FUMC - Endowment Fund, 1201 Lavaca, Austin, TX 78701 or Power for Parkinson’s, 5555 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78751.
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Corinthians 5:1.
Betty is in a new house today.
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