Betty P. Barnett

Betty Ruth Pierce Barnett was born September 25, 1929 in Houston, Texas to Fred Allan Pierce and Beth Schmidt Pierce and is survived by daughter Beth “Missy” Barnett Callahan and her husband, James Richard Callahan. Predeceased relatives include her parents, her brother Allan Pierce, M.D. and her beloved husband, William David Barnett, M.D., who died on August 27, 2013. Betty graduated from Highland Park High School in 1947. She then attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where she received a B.A. in both Sociology and English in Spring of 1951. She also served as President of the Athenean Club (now Kappa Kappa Gamma) and served on the Inter Club Council. She was also voted “Miss Fashion Plate” of 1950. Betty went on to her dream job as assistant to Charles R. Meeker, who brought the Dallas Summer Musicals into being. On April 27, 1957 Betty Ruth Pierce married William David Barnett, M.D. Missy, their daughter was born in 1961. She and David were a perfect couple, both handsome, and completely devoted to one another. They travelled the world, they loved fine restaurants, and enjoyed the same interests. Always a natural leader, Betty excelled in working on behalf of organizations devoted to the medical profession. She belonged to a number of medical wives clubs in Dallas such as Medical Center Woman’s Club, Wives of Faculty and Clinical Faculty at UT Southwestern, where she served as President in 1968-1969. The Dallas County Medical Society Auxiliary (now Alliance) serving as President in 1974-75, the year the organization received the gift from the family of Rena and George N. Aldredge of their historic home in the Swiss Avenue Historic District. Throughout her presidency, she led this legendary organization, established in 1917, the first such auxiliary to a county medical society in the country. She saw the organization through the transition period of ownership of a property considered one of the finest examples of a home of the period of 1917, the year in which it was built and the same the year the Alliance was established. Throughout her life she remained devoted to these medical organizations, and in particular the Aldredge House. Betty also was a former member of The Dallas Woman’s Club and The Dallas Country Club. Always beautiful and perfectly groomed, she was willing to be of help in organizations about which she cared, she was a steadfast, loyal friend, who above all, loved the Lord. She was beautiful to the end of her life here and now is reunited with her beloved David. Graveside services will be held at Sparkman/Hillcrest Memorial Park at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 24, 2013, Msgr. Donald Zimmerman officiating. Memorials to her life may be sent to The Aldredge House, 5500 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75214 or to the charity of your choice.