Betty J. Parish

Betty (Beatrice) Jacqueline (Hinson) Parish peacefully passed away to forever be with her Lord and Savior on May 18, 2008. Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, James Earl Parish, who passed away in October 2007, her older sister, Mary Lou (Hinson) Holdren, and her parents Beatrice Ann (Vore) and James (Jack) Luther Hinson. Betty is survived by her four daughters: Jackie Joy of Denver, Colorado; Becky (Randy) Washington of Austin, Texas, Susan (Daniel) Perez of Yoakum, Texas; and Robin (Bruce) Burns of Jarrell, Texas; and her brother, Kenneth Hinson, of Springlake, Texas. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, James Joy of Medford, Oregon, Jovan Joy, Jeremy Joy and Jamie Joy of Denver, Colorado, Chris (Amy) Washington of Georgetown, Texas, Stacy Washington of Austin, Texas, Elisa Perez of Lubbock, Texas, Amber and Jon David Perez of Yoakum, Texas, and Greyson and Aaron Burns of Jarrell, Texas. She is also survived by 4 great-grandchildren, Charity Joy of Denver, Colorado, Paris Joy, of Portland, Oregon, and Colton and Aly Jo Washington of Georgetown, Texas. Betty was born on August 11, 1925, in Plainview, Texas. She graduated in 1942 from Springlake High School as the Salutatorian of her senior class. She was voted Best All-Round Student of her class. She was active in all school activities and played French horn in the band. Betty went to Texas Tech College in Lubbock for one semester. The she transferred to Texas State College for Women in Denton where she studied public school music and Spanish, took voice and piano lessons and played in the college band. She went to Saltillo, Mexico, for a summer session to study Spanish in a study abroad program sponsored by the Texas State College. Betty finished her music studies at State University in Boulder, Colorado where she also played in the college band. She graduated in February 1946 with a Bachelor’s in Music Degree. She returned to Springlake in the Texas panhandle to marry her high school sweetheart, Earl Parish, who was returning from his tour of duty in the US Navy after World War II. They married on April 6, 1946, at First Baptist Church in Earth, Texas. Betty was church pianist and children’s choir director and Earl was a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Springlake for many years. Betty taught music in the Springlake Schools for two years before she took some time off to have children. She taught private lessons for 12 years in a studio beside the Springlake school campus while Earl farmed the land around their home five miles north of Springlake. They had their four daughters while living at this farm home. In 1969 Betty and Earl, Susan, and Robin moved to Dimmitt where Betty taught public school music for 8 more years and Earl managed the Dimmitt Consumer’s Propane/Gas Business. In 1981, they sold most of their Springlake farm and moved to the Austin area with Robin who was in high school. In 1994 Betty and Earl moved to Georgetown and became active in the church and community. Betty again taught piano lessons. Betty was a member of First Baptist Church in Georgetown. She was active in WMU and involved in missions. She helped start the Encouragers, now known as Barnabas Ministry, to help new members feel welcome and active in the church. She was involved in Precepts Bible Study group for years and studied through many books of the Bible through her daily quiet time and in these small group sessions. She recently became a part of the Grief Group and the Stephen’s Ministry. Betty was active in the Austin District Music Teachers Association and the National Guild of Piano Teachers. She loved the Music Study Club and was as active as possible as since moving to Georgetown in 1994. She also was one of the first officers in the The Friends of Georgetown Symphony (FOGSS) where she served as secretary and membership to help boost membership and community support when the organization first started. Although Betty grew up going to the one church in the Springlake/Earth area, she was 23 when she became a Christian. After that she was always involved in the local church, teaching or directing Bible School, the children’s choir program, serving as church pianist, attending Glorietta Baptist Encampment with family and friends many summers, active in the Women on Mission and supported numerous missionaries through prayer and donations over the years. She often inquired whether an acquaintance or friend is a Christian, as sharing the gospel was one of her priorities in life. Her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren were important to Betty. She had numerous pictures of them around the house and prayed regularly for each one. Betty also loved to work in her yard and garden. She was assigned the outside chores as a child such as feeding the chickens and gathering the eggs, but also she likely believed that “He who tills the soil works hand in hand with God.” Betty was always a seamstress, sewing many beautiful outfits for her four daughters as they were growing up. She taught needle point for the years she lived in Dimmitt in the Texas Panhandle and has many needlepoint pillows that she made over the years. Betty and Earl had many friends and got together for social gatherings often. Betty developed many friendships from each one of these activities she was involved in. Her friends say she was quiet and sweet and had such caring ways. Whenever she took on a job, she was so faithful to get the job done and organize it in such a way that it would continue on without her in the future. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Friends of the Georgetown Symphony at P.O. Box 2105 Georgetown TX 7 8627 or the Stephen’s Ministry at First Baptist Church at 1333 W University Ave Georgetown TX 78628.