Betty Hays Stockbridge

Betty Dunning Hays Stockbridge (Diby or Mimi to many) passed away on Tuesday the 6th of January 2026. She was 93 years of age. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1932 but, like she liked to say, she got to Texas as fast as she could. She grew up in Dallas and attended Woodrow Wilson High School. Betty was the consummate Daddy’s girl. Even as a little girl she exhibited that fun, free spirit that she kept all throughout her life, staging a “sit in” during elementary school so that girls could have the right to wear slacks to school.

Betty went to Baylor University, where she actually met the two great loves of her life Stan Hays (her husband, who passed away in 1993) and Jerry Stockbridge, whom she dated before meeting Stan, and married in 1995 after Stan’s passing. Betty was a member of the social club that became Delta Delta Delta sorority at Baylor. Rumor has it that there may have occasionally been liquor bottles hanging out of the dorm window or dancing being done… but there’s no evidence to prove it until dancing on campus was allowed in the 2000s.

Stan and Betty started life in Connecticut for Stan’s job before returning to Houston to settle down but Betty kept a life-long love for New England. Betty and family settled in the Memorial area in the 1960s to raise their family of three kids (Ginny, Stan and Lori). Month-long summer driving trips in the family station wagon provided life-long bonding and memories for the family. Betty was an athlete all her life playing competitive club tennis until 80 and only then giving it up due in part to a ski injury. But her love for camaraderie and social interaction kept her on as an active or honorary team captain into her 90s. She was also active with Tri- Delt, bridge and mahjong groups, and investment club. She loved and lived for any sort of social event and could talk to anyone. You couldn't meet Betty without feeling like you had a new friend. Betty was even known to answer the phone and talk and have a lovely conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number.

It would be important to Mimi that we note that the single greatest joy in her life were her nine grandchildren (yes, Travis and Shelby that means you too!) and ten great-grandchildren with one more on the way. When grandkids were involved, nothing could stand in her way (including a delivery room door!). Thirty years plus of family vacations at the beach and countless Christmases and Thanksgivings at Mimi’s house were blessed pandemonium that would leave Mimi exhausted but glowing. We think Mimi lived so long because her heart grew bigger with each addition to her extended family. Mimi’s love was boundless and that love created a special and lasting bond among the grandkids and great grandkids that will be Mimi’s greatest legacy.

Betty’s passing was preceded by her loving parents; her first husband, Stan; and her son, Stan Jr., who was her pride and joy, he was taken from us way too soon.

Betty is survived by her husband, Jerry; her brother, Larry; her children and their spouses, Ginny and Tony Abiassi, and Lori and Dan Maddox; Stan’s wife Camille; Jerry’s sons, Scott and Jay Stockbridge; her nine grandchildren and spouses, Trey and Jessica, Maddy and Jonathan, Stephanie and Patrick, Tony and Andrea, Andy, Tyler and Susie, Brooke, Travis and Analise and Shelby; her ten plus great-grandchildren; and her nieces, Melissa, Tracey, and Jenni along with their families. We would be remiss if we didn’t also mention her first and lifelong friend, Barbara Cox who she had known all her life.

We also want to offer special thanks to the loving care givers who stayed with Betty and allowed her to stay in her home of fifty plus years, Mayra, Ola, Sayeah, and Monsurat.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock until seven o'clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 14th of January, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A celebration of Betty’s life is to be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 15th of January in the chapel at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive in Houston.

Immediately following all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the nearby parlor.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family would ask that you honor Betty as you wish with donations to the Ronald McDonald House or to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation by selecting their respective link under “Donations” below, or the charity of your choice.

We invite you to take a few moments to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with her family by selecting the “Add a Memory” icon below.