OBITUARY

Betty Marie Dean

January 27, 1938 – February 12, 2021
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Betty Marie Dean

Betty (Mills) Dean, a resident of Lake Forest Falls community in Conroe for 43 years, passed away at 83 years of age on Friday, February 12, 2021. She was born in the great north woods in Rexton of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Arthur and Leona (Barr) Mills on Thursday, January 27, 1938.

Most of her adult working career was spent in retail sales and she retired from this position at JC Penny’s after 28 years of service at the age of 62. She was a member of the 1st United Methodist Church of Conroe and early on in her retirement had enjoyed working with those older than she with their age-related health issues. She also spent a good deal of time feeding the hungry and was an ardent supporter of St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Betty cherished all her Children, Grand’s and Great Grand’s. She would always make the comment on how blessed she was to have such a wonderful bunch of which to be so proud. All the Grands and Great Grands loved to visit her and take turns exploring grandma’s magic box of toys and books. She also really enjoyed keeping in touch with her siblings still residing in the north country of Ohio and Michigan.

Her children thank the good Lord above for blessing them with such a generous and loving mother for all these years. They where also blessed with the honor of being present at her bedside for the last hours of her earthly presence in the ICU ward at Methodist Hospital in The Woodlands, Texas. We thank her medical teams for her excellent care, comfort and concern while in their charge.

Left to cherish her memory are her beloved children, Russell Tanton and wife Susan, Danial Tanton and wife Sharyn, Debbie Roze and husband Terry, Lee Tanton and wife Donna. Grand Children Jason and wife Amanda, Christy and husband Ian, Tyler and wife Meagan, Dustin, Tom and wife Brandy, Howard and wife Sara, Jennifer, Christopher and wife Amanda, Sheila, Eric and wife Laura. Great Grandchildren, Hallie, Annabelle, Caroline, Bennett, Ella, Grayson, Marshall, Malachi, Evangeline, Alex, Sebastian, Paige, Jeffery, Zachery, Clara, Cooper and Wyatt, surviving Siblings; John, Leona, Louis, Louise, Donna and Art along with her loving family friends.

Betty, Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma - we will cherish and carry your love and commitment with us in our hearts and memories and are in peace in knowing that you are now renewed by our loving savior. We take comfort in knowing that you will be watching over all of us as our newest angel in heaven.

The Family will receive friends on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Metcalf Funeral Home, 1801 E White Oak Terrace from 2:00PM to 3:00 PM. She requested that her remains be cremated upon her passing and that request will be honored with ashes placed per her request.

In lieu of flowers we are certain that Mom would be pleased if you could make a small donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Charity Hospital at StJude.org. Our family would like to thank you for your prayers and support and ask all of you to join us in our celebration and remembrance of her life and adventures while she was with us.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Dean family by clicking the “ Add a Memory” tab.

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  • Celebration of Life

    Saturday, February 27, 2021

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Betty Marie Dean

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Steve Tennyson

February 27, 2021

A beautiful and touching ceremony. Great stories about Betty who was a strong, loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. I remember her as a sweet woman who treated us like her own children. God bless her family.

Debbie Roze

February 27, 2021

Debbie Roze

February 26, 2021

Mom loved life and her Family as I look at these pictures you can see the love and actually feel it!! We were all very lucky to have such a strong loving Mother/Grandmother in are lives. I love her down to my very core of being! We shared a very special relationship best friends! I miss her dearly but I do know she's happy to have gotten out of here before any of us! I love you Mom and I'll make sure that cookie jar is full!!!!

Donna Tanton

February 26, 2021

Donna Tanton ( Lee’s wife)

I want to share the first time I met, my mother-in-law, not knowing that she would be....
Lee and I started dating in the summer of 1990. One day, we were out and about, cruising down IH 45, and he said, hey, you want to meet my mother, she works at JC Penny in Greens Points Mall. My response was “ sure do!” So, we walk into Penny’s to the furniture department and Lee introduced me to his Mom, as his girlfriend. Long story short, we hit it off immediately and just started to talk, then came the laughs and the hugs!❤️ I never felt so welcomed and knew Lee’s mother was a very special, caring and loving woman. ❤️ As we were leaving, we passed by an apple mirror on display and I made the comment on how much I loved it! Well, guess what I got for Christmas! Just goes to show that Momma Betty knew that I was going to become part of the family .... Lee and I were married on August 7, 1992, and the apple mirror has lived in 4 houses! BTW, Chris & Eric became fast friends when we both lived in the Cedars Apartments, if it wasn’t for our boys, we may have never met💙❤️💙. Already missing you, my sweet Betty❤️ Loved all our talks and visits, she always gave me insightful advise when I needed it most. Going to be hard coming up 105 and not turning right to Lake Forest Falls. Thankful Lee & I had one last fun and wonderful visit with you, Mom, not knowing it would be our last. 🥲 Betty, was the best and most loving mother-in-law a girl could ask for... for that I am truly blessed. Love you, mom, Rest In Peace❤️🙏❤️

Chris Tanton

February 26, 2021

Grandma Betty was the best grandma anyone could ever ask for. The love that she had for all of us was unmeasurable.
I will never forget all the good times I had as a kid at Grandma's house. Getting dropped off by the school bus at Grandma's so she could watch me for a couple hours until Dad could pick me up in the evenings. Us grand kids would gather at her house on the weekends, playing school or JCPenney. All the nights and weekends I would stay over and fish in the back yard with more cousins and friends. This woman was never off the clock and still had the energy to shower us all with love and attention.
Grandma loved to be on the road, taking many of us grandkids on adventures. I had a few trips to Hot Springs Arkansas with Grandma that were really special. We always stayed at the same hotel on the lake. We would take walks through the hills, check our the natural hot springs and look at the neat rocks or gems for sale. It was those road trips with Grandma that introduced me to new places and the idea that there is just so much out there to see. This has stuck with me through my life and helped inspire me to move around the country, which also led me to meet my wonderful wife Amanda in Seattle.
I am thankful for the couple trips I was able to make back to Texas over the past 5 or so years. I am so happy Grandma could meet Amanda and visit with her grand dog Smigel. I am also thankful for everything Grandma has taught me in life. From sewing and cooking to standing up for myself and following my passions. Thank you for always believing in me Grandma and cheering me on. It has helped to make me the person I am today and I am forever grateful for that.
We love and miss you so much. It feels like there is a big hole in our lives now, but knowing you will always still be there for us, always in our hearts, makes this a little easier each day.
- Chris and Amanda Tanton

Dustin Tanton

February 26, 2021

Grandma was the sweetest person I've ever known. She was a wealth of knowledge. There was never a question she didn't have an answer to. She always had the Oreo jar that everyone knows and loves, and then a secondary bowl of the usual Reese's and Hershey's. I can remember all the times she stocked the fridge with A&W Root Beer and Sunkist, not for her, but for all her grandkids. The blankets she made, the time she put into them. She had a particular genuine love that I have yet to encounter anywhere. Someday I hope to embody the kind of love she has for her family. She has such a beautiful relationship with God as everyone can attest, I can't wait to see her again.

Lee (Chop) Tanton

February 26, 2021

My mom was without a doubt my biggest hero and fan that a son could ever hope and pray for. The support she gave me, my wife and our children was unwavering and unconditional. To say I will miss my mother is an understatement. She is such a huge influence in my life and all of our family. Our mother was and still is ( in sprit) the strongest person I have ever known. The best advise she ever gave me was simply to "do something" because doing nothing didn't fit with her. I knew what she meant by this statement. No matter what life throws at you, "DO Something" right , wrong, or indifferent. Grab it and do your best to fix it. Well Mom, I bet I have told my kids this same advise a hundred times and now look at them. Your advise works. We all know how proud you are of all of us. I just hope you realized how we are all just an extension of you. You made us what we are and you did it alone with our Lords help. Thank you. We all know your only fear in life was something happening to one of your kids, grand kids or great grandkids before you. Well congratulations ! YOU WON! We love and miss you very much. Chop "Lee"














Tyler Tanton

February 22, 2021

Grandma taught us all, taught me, what love looks like. Real love, in action. No questions, no judgements, just open arms kind of love. The kind of love that we are intended to live out. The kind of love that the Father has for his people. The kind of love I aspire to be able to express. Thank you for showing us that. Thank you for showing me that. I pray I can learn to love others as well as you did. Love you. Thank you grandma.

Jason and Amanda Tanton

February 21, 2021

With newborn Annabelle Tanton (Jason and Amanda's middle daughter). May 2010.

Jason and Amanda Tanton

February 21, 2021

More porch swingin' with Bennett Tanton (Jason and Amanda's youngest).

FROM THE FAMILY
FROM THE FAMILY
FROM THE FAMILY

July 4th Fireworks Display
Mom and Dustin

FROM THE FAMILY

Grandma, Leroy, Leona and Rich on her wedding day

FROM THE FAMILY
FROM THE FAMILY

Grandma hanging out at the Beach in Sargent, Texas with grandson's Dustin and Tyler

FROM THE FAMILY
FROM THE FAMILY

Fishing at Grandma’s house

FROM THE FAMILY
FROM THE FAMILY