Betty Ruth Terry Johnston

On August 7, 2025, Betty Terry Johnston, 81, of Houston, Texas, died as dramatically as she had lived. After eight months of battling pancreatic cancer, she spent her final days in High Point, North Carolina, in the company of her only son, James Alva Hardy, and his wife, LeAnn Wilson Hardy. Her step-daughter, Jill Johnston Lewis of Houston, was visiting when Betty’s health took a turn for the worse. Her family placed her in an ambulance and told her she was going to hospice.

“Thank God!” she said. “Finally.”

Those were her last words. The EMS workers reported that en route, she took a couple of long, deep breaths and then suddenly expired. That was Betty. She was ready to go. So she went.

Born in Shamrock, Texas, on January 15, 1944, Betty Ruth Terry was raised with two brothers, Jessie and Tony, and one sister, Ruth. She married Alva Hardy and gave birth to James Alva Hardy before she turned 18. Divorced before the age of 21, Betty later met and married James J. Johnston of Houston, with whom she shared 25 years before he passed. She’ll be interred by his side.

Betty lived a rich, full life of family, friends, and charitable work. She was kind and generous, helping many with educational pursuits and new business ventures. For years, she enjoyed season tickets to the Houston Astros and was active with the Houston Rodeo. She ran an 8,000 acre ranch in Pearsall, Texas, and briefly even sponsored a race car driven by former Houston Oiler Dan Pastorini.

Betty was a loving mother to her son Jim and his wife LeAnn; her step-daughter Jill Lewis and her husband Ieuan Lewis; and her step-son Jeff Johnston. She chose to be called “Bella” by her nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren: Stephanie Hardy, Woodrow Hardy (and his wife Madelyn), Lacey Hardy, Wayne Hardy, James Lewis, Lindell Lewis, and Ainsley Lewis, as well as her bonus grandchildren, Dalton McGuire and his wife Haylee, and DeLaney McGuire Yokley and her husband Jesse.

She delighted in being a great-grandmother to Pauline Hardy, Kaden Hardy, John Thomas McGuire, Jack McGuire, Samuel Yokely, Alva Hardy, Jamie McGuire, Liam Yokely, and Raylan Hardy.

Now free from suffering, Betty will be laid to rest at 10 a.m. on August 21, 2025, at Forest Park Funeral Home Westheimer in Houston, Texas. Her family, friends, acquaintances, and loved ones are all invited to gather for this celebration of her life.

Finally.