Betty Joella Minier

Betty Joella (Buse) Minier, aged 92, peacefully passed away on June 13, 2024, with her daughter by her side. She was born on December 14, 1931, in Houston, Texas, to Howard and Ruby (Maggard) Buse. She was the widow of Arthur Perkins Minier Jr.

Betty's college journey began at Baylor University, where she proudly won a beauty contest. She then transitioned to the University of Houston in her second year. The story goes that she was walking down the main thoroughfare of the college and “Perk” saw her from the second floor window. He whistled down to her and called out, “Betty!”. They had known each other in high school and after this encounter, they remained together until his passing in 2016 - celebrating sixty-two years of marriage. Betty graduated with a degree in Business, although her true passion was to become a physical education teacher, as she had a deep love for sports.

After marrying Arthur and welcoming their first daughter, they embarked on a journey to Bad Kreuznach, Germany, for Arthur's military duties, where their second daughter was born. Upon returning to Houston, they later had their third daughter. Betty's days were filled with the joys of motherhood and managing household chores without modern conveniences like microwaves and clothes dryers. Despite working part-time as an accountant due to her proficiency with numbers, her primary focus remained her daughters and husband.

Betty and Arthur also were heavily involved in the Shriner’s organization and enjoyed aiding children in need. Known for her delicious meals, Betty’s fried chicken was a family favorite. Some of the family’s favorite memories are the camping trips to Garner State Park along the Frio River, a tradition still carried on and cherished by her family. They raised their family in Westbury, but as the nest emptied after her daughters’ marriages, Betty and Arthur developed a passion for parrots, eventually opening a pet store in Conroe, Texas, sharing their love for animals with all who visited. Arthur bred the parrots, while Betty incubated and hand-fed hundreds of them during this period. We are confident that these parrots are happily living with their owners to this day.

After successfully running their breeding business until advancing age became a consideration, Betty and Arthur transitioned from Pinehurst to Richmond to be closer to family. Following Arthur’s passing in 2016, Betty spent her time caring for her beloved cats and her dog, Lucky. She resided in her home until 2021 when she moved to Brenham to be closer to her granddaughter, Sonya, and daughter, Cherie. As Alzheimer’s began to take its toll, she moved to The Auberge in Sugar Land. The family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care provided by her caregivers, who attended to her with love and empathy. Despite the challenges, Betty imparted the enduring gift of faith, as evidenced by her final moments when she looked upward and expressed, “It’s wonderful.” Her resilience and determination amazed all at The Auberge, showcasing her unwavering strength in the face of adversity.

She is survived by her three daughters Cherie Correro (Joe); Marianne Walker (Paul); Melinda O’Dell (David); 9 grandchildren: Mila McClain; Sonya Pastuch (Michael); Ryan O’Dell; Jeff Walker (who greeted her in heaven); Brad Walker M.D. (Michael); Kimberly Williams (Matt); Steven Walker (Sonya); Sarah Maultsby (Nick); Jonathan Correro (Ambra) and 14 great grandchildren: Jackson, Jacob, Elle, Macy, Sophie, Noah, Lily, Rylee, Benjamin, Caleb Jeffrey, Lincoln, Gracie Jo, Madelyn, Natalie…and more to come.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Minier, Jr.; sister, Margaret Ruth Buse and grandson, Jeff Walker.

A graveside for Betty will be held Thursday, June 20, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale St, Houston, TX 77023.