Bettye Lea Province

Graveside services will be held on Monday, November 16th, at 10:00 am at Evergreen Cemetery.

She grew up on her family’s cotton farm with her two sisters near Idalou, Texas. Times were hard at first, but they all worked together and that land became a very successful and productive farm.

Bettye graduated in 1956 from New Deal High School. She maintained friendships with some of her schoolmates for over 80 years.

After high school, she attended Wayland Baptist College majoring in Biology with an emphasis on genetics.

While attending Wayland, she met Clifton Wayne Martin. They were married August 15th 1959, and remained married until his death in 1987.

She took her very broad science knowledge and became a high school teacher. She taught Biology, Physical Science, Chemistry and Physics at Abernathy High School and Jim Ned High School. After Clifton’s death, she moved to Brownwood, Texas and taught at Howard Payne University. Bettye had a phenomenal memory and taught many hundreds of students over her 30 plus years of teaching.

In 2001, she met Doyle Province and moved to Colorado Springs. They enjoyed 25 wonderful years of marriage together. They served on the bereavement meal committee at their church and helped touch many hurting families through their ministry. Bettye also enjoyed a 20 plus year involvement with her very good friends in Colorado Springs playing cards once per month. Many a fun afternoon was spent playing, fellowshipping, laughing and sharing.

Bettye was a daughter, sister, aunt and friend, but her absolute joy was being a Mother and a Granny. She loved and faithfully attended as many events, games and celebrations as she could. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren had a faithful and enthusiastic fan in Granny for over 40 years.

Bettye was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Glenna Myatt and JoAnne Mead. Her husband, Clifton and her precious baby daughter, Suzanne Martin also preceded her.

She is survived by her loving husband, Doyle Province. Her thankful and loving children: Dennis Province, Robin Todd (Eric), Belinda Mathews (Patrick), Laura Goodrich (Stephan), and Briana Sassaman (Ken).

Her beloved grandchildren: Katie Todd (Nathaniel), David Todd (Lindi), Emily Todd, TJ Taylor (Gil), Synthia Taylor (Bruce), Dylan Sassaman and Kayla Clark (Tyler).

Her precious great grandchildren: Alaina, Olivia, Isla, Chase, Ella, Jackson, Abigail, Dexter, Danielle, Philip, Alice, AdaJane and Shaylah. Her sister-in-law, Beverly Wilhelm and the Martin family, and her nieces, Jane and Julie and her nephew, Jason.

She was an amazingly unique blend of love, faith, strength, integrity, generosity and steadfastness. She leaves a legacy that generations of her family will value.

While we adjust to life here on earth without her, we remain joyful that she was in our lives and that we will see her again in Heaven when we leave this place.

You are so greatly loved! Thank you for pouring your life into all of us.

Matthew 25:21….well done, good and faithful servant!