Hilary J. Beets

HILARY JOYCE SANDFORD BEETS, of Belfast, Ireland, passed away peacefully encircled by her husband and two daughters on Sunday, February 18, 2018, at her home of nearly 40 years in Hurst, Texas. She will always be remembered as a loving mother, friend of many and warrior for Christ. She was born on November 7, 1943, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and born again to the Lord in 1964. Hilary became a proud, naturalized citizen of the United States on December 5, 1966.

Hilary is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Benny Beets, her sister, Carol Sandford Watson, her daughter and son-in-law, Shana and Barry Koontz, her daughter and son-in-law, Tamara and Dee Shelton, her seven grandchildren, Lindsy, Trey, Trevor, Kyle, Tara, Chad and TJ, and her two great-grandchildren, Channing and Emmery.

Visitation: 6 o’clock to 8 o’clock p.m. on Friday, February 23, at the funeral home. Funeral: 10 o’clock a.m. on Saturday, February 24, at Gateway Church - North Richland Hills, 7501 Davis Blvd. Committal: will follow at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park. Hilary had a heart for many things, one is the Single Parent Families Ministry at Gateway Church. Donations have been made in Hilary’s honor.

Trey's Eulogy

Well, ever since I grew my hair and beard out. Nana always said I looked like Jesus. Now that she’s met him, I was thinking about how that conversation must’ve went. Nana thought so highly of all her grandkids that I bet she met Jesus and said. Ya know Jesus, you look just like my grandson.

That’s how I’ll remember Nana, as someone who only sees the best in everyone around her. Someone who loves you so much, that even when you start to look like a homeless guy, all she sees is Jesus.

Words can’t express how much love Nana had in her heart, how deeply she cared for every one of us. Every time I saw her or talked to her, Nana always wanted to know how I was doing, how I felt. No matter how much she was struggling, she was always so much more concerned with me. With whether id just had a good day or not.

God gave her words power. I know that Nana has prayed for everyone in this room at some point. And if anyone has god’s ear it’s Nana. Even with one lung, Nana’s every breath was filled with more love and more strength than anyone I’ll ever know.

Her strength and her example inspire me every day. Because of her, I strive to be my best and follow god’s path. Not because I’m afraid of getting in trouble or making her mad. But because I love her, and I can’t bear to make her sad. She’s the best and she deserves the best from me, from us.

I was thinking about how much has changed just in my lifetime. Christmas at Nana’s used to consist of everyone gathering around and watching me and Lindsy open presents. These days, we barely have enough room to fit everyone in the living room and I’m so glad Nana got to see that. Obviously, today I’m heartbroken. I’m grieving the loss of the most wonderful, beautiful person this world has ever known.

However, I find solace in the fact that Nana was able to see more than anyone ever thought was possible. There was nothing Nana loved more than spending time with all of us, her family. I’m eternally grateful that not only did she beat the odds and get to see her daughters grow up. She got to make birthdays, Christmas, and regular old days special for all her grandkids and even great-grandkids.

I’m going to miss Nana’s famous cookies, her rendition of happy birthday every year, and her sweet, loving presence. But I’m so happy I got to experience them, and I know Nana’s so happy to have shared those times with us.

Nana meant the world to me, to all of us. But I know she’d hate to see any of us sad. So instead of mourning the life we lost. Let us celebrate the amazing life she had, the love we shared, and the memories we all cherish.

Goodbye Nana, I’ll always love you.

Ben's prayer.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust.”

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a]

And from the perilous pestilence.

He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand at your right hand;

But it shall not come near you.

Only with your eyes shall you look,

And see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

No evil shall befall you,

Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,

The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him,

And show him My salvation.”

Psalm 91:1-16

Shana's prayer.

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Psalm 23:1-6

* * * * * * * * * *

HILARY JOYCE SANDFORD BEETS, of Belfast, Ireland, passed away peacefully encircled by her husband and two daughters on Sunday, February 18, 2018, at her home of nearly 40 years in Hurst, Texas. She will always be remembered as a loving mother, friend of many and warrior for Christ. She was born on November 7, 1943, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and born again to the Lord in 1964. Hilary became a proud, naturalized citizen of the United States on December 5, 1966.

Hilary is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Benny Beets, her sister, Carol Sandford Watson, her daughter and son-in-law, Shana and Barry Koontz, her daughter and son-in-law, Tamara and Dee Shelton, her seven grandchildren, Lindsy, Trey, Trevor, Kyle, Tara, Chad and TJ, and her two great-grandchildren, Channing and Emmery.

Visitation: 6 o’clock to 8 o’clock p.m. on Friday, February 23, at the funeral home. Funeral: 10 o’clock a.m. on Saturday, February 24, at Gateway Church - North Richland Hills, 7501 Davis Blvd. Committal: will follow at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park.

Hilary had a heart for many things, one is the Single Parent Families Ministry at Gateway Church. If you would like to make a donation in Hilary’s honor, you can contact them at http://gatewaypeople.com/ministries/single-parents.

If you wish to send floral condolences in honor of Hilary J. Beets, you may call Dr. Delphinium Designs and Events, 214-525-1284.