Betty Jean Salyers

Betty Jean Collier (Salyers) was born in Wise, Virginia, to Philip Henry Sheridan Collier and Desi Virginia Sowders and is one of 10 children born to this union. She was married to Paul Evan Salyers on July 8, 1955, in Norton, VA. She was a beloved wife, mom, mamaw, and friend. She passed away at the age of 89, only 2 months and 4 days after her beloved husband. During her 70-year marriage to Paul, they started their family and were blessed with 5 children, 4 sons, and 1 daughter.

Her happiest of times were when her children married and started having her grandchildren, and throughout her life she was blessed with 18 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.

Betty came from an area of the USA known as the Appalachian Region. An area where farming and coal mining were abundant, and family values were rarely questioned. She was born a hard worker and remained so throughout her life.

Betty lived the life of a military wife, household provider, and sometimes a single parent due to military spousal assignments. We thank her for her service!

Betty was a mother and housewife for the first 23 years of her marriage.

Betty was family-oriented and believed that the most important thing in this world was her family because she’d say they would always be there for you. This didn’t only include those family members she bore; she often opened her door to others who didn’t have any family and said it’s because sometimes family chooses you!

To stay, the least Betty was a master at keeping the home fires burning, spending years of sacrifice and compromise to always make sure everyone was taken care of, while putting herself last. I guess you could say she gave the Ultimate Mother’s Sacrifice!

She was kind, loving, and fair to all who crossed her path in life, and her love language was definitely food and decadent desserts for visitors who might drop by because her door was always open, and no one was ever turned away. This was her superpower; she had done it all her life and knew it was definitely what she brought to the table in the family and for all the extended friends. It was talked about by everyone for years, and when she could no longer carry on the tradition, it was sorely missed.

She had previously sacrificed a career to raise and support her family, while Paul had worked to bring in the financial support the family needed. After her children were grown or old enough to care for themselves, she dove into a career outside of the home.

This is when she started working as an assistant school baker in the Del Valle School District, providing students with a friendly face and nourishment for their day. She continued that journey for 4 years.

After her years in the school cafeteria, she obtained a job at Kmart in the office doing bookkeeping, all without a formal education or outside experience. The fact that she accomplished this is a testament to her intelligence, skills, personality, and determination.

This helped provide additional income as the family grew with the addition of marriages and grandchildren, and Paul’s career progressing with the City of Austin and moving into management, which required more time and commitment.

She also worked as a seasonal employee part-time for the IRS for 8 consecutive years. This was in the evening during tax season and was what she called the extra butter on the bread!

Betty’s favorite thing in life was baking and cooking meals for her family and often many children in the neighborhood. You see, she never turned away any of them who were hungry and needed a meal. The confections were an added bonus, and Paul loved dessert, so it was never just a meal; we always had a dessert for afterwards.

Betty and Paul were known for their love of playing table games. If you ever went to their house, you could be sure there would be a bounty of food ready to eat, and then the table was cleared, and they would get the cards and be rushing people to play a form of rummy called 313. Betty won her fair share of games, to be sure. One of her favorite games that Paul refused to play was Scrabble; she was a genius and was hard to beat, if she ever was, is unknown. Numbers and words were her superpower! She was definitely a smart cookie! This intelligence was passed on to her children through genetics for sure, and a God-given gift to all of them. She could also finish the Sunday crossword in no time at all; she was a genius!

Her favorite hobby was sewing and crafts. She specialized in those and learned to make personalized patterns, arranging flowers and building the most beautiful arrangements for her children’s weddings while also saving a lot of money! She had a knack for that and was always up for the task.

Betty also had a love of bowling and had been in a league since arriving at Bergstrom AFB in 1971. She and her husband, Paul, continued to bowl in a league at the Westgate Lanes in Austin, TX. There was always a group surrounding them, and they made fast friends of everyone.

The family would like to express their gratitude towards the outpouring of love we have received from friends and family during this time of loss. It’s a testament to our mother’s legacy and the many lives she has touched. May she rest in peace and never be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts could be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in her honor; a cause near to her heart.

Lineage:

Betty Jean Salyers (Collier) is survived by her Children: Paul Ray Salyers and wife Nora Salyers; Steve Douglas Salyers and wife Renae Salyers; Philip Lee Salyers; Fred Allen Salyers and Freda Ann Schappe and husband Nicholas Schappe.

Preceded in Death:

Husband, Paul Evan Salyers, Father, Philip Henry Sheridan Collier; Mother, Desi Virginia Sowders; Sister, Selma Loretta Collier; brother, Lloyd Collier; sister, Ruby Mae Collier, sister, Zola Faye Collier; brother, Roy Edward Collier; brother, Kermit Ray Collier; brother, Earl Jackson Collier; granddaughter, Kellie Diane Salyers and daughter-in-law, Kim Elizabeth Salyers

Surviving Family:

Siblings:

Sister Pauline Butler; Brother Philip Collier Jr.

Children:

Paul Ray Salyers and wife Nora Salyers; Steve Douglas and wife Renae Salyers; Philip Lee Salyers; Fred Allen Salyers; Freda Ann Salyers-Schappe and husband Nicholas Schappe

Grandchildren:

Jennifer Day; Amber Martell; Robin Salyers; Heather Garcia and husband Santana Garcia; Destiney Spear and husband Brett Spear; Nicole Pilchiek and husband James Pilchiek; Matthew Salyers and wife Kimberly Salyers; Chris Dreyer and wife Andrea Dreyer; Ross Salyers and wife Joannah Salyers; Ryan Salyers and wife Kristin Salyers and Melanie Salyers

Great Grandchildren:

Jaxon Day and wife Chelsea Day; Johnithyn Salyers and wife April Salyers; Dean George; Gabriel Garcia; Ayden Lozano; Haley Spear; Ava Pilchiek; Nyko Garcia; Jordan Salyers; Taylor Spear; Levi Dreyer; Grayson Martell; Lorelei Belanger; Nova Williams; Ashlynn Dreyer; Harleigh Salyers; Tristian Fernandez Salyers; Olivia Salyers; Marlowe Salyers; Hunter Salyers; Riley Salyers; Brooklyn Salyers; Collins Salyers

Great Great Grandchildren:

Adelyn Salyers

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am on March 21, 2026, at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, Texas 78749.

A Memorial Service will be held from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm on March 21, 2026, at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, TX 78749, US.