On Wednesday, June 22nd, Betty Jean Lee was received into the arms of a loving God. Her long battle with Dementia and Parkinson’s has ended. She was a pastor’s wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
Betty was born October 5, 1933, at Seton Hospital in Austin, TX. Her childhood home was at 44th Street and Avenue F. Her church home was Hyde Park Baptist Church. Betty attended Austin High School and graduated from Baylor University in 1955 with a degree in Religious Studies. She married Tommie Marvin Lee of Smithville, TX in 1956 and lived in Ft Worth while Tommie finished his Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary studies. After moving to Austin in the early 60’s, Tommie was called to pastor the church at Joppa, TX where they remained until the early 90’s. Betty’s heart was in children’s ministry…holding Sunday School for the kids of varying ages each Sunday and playing the piano. She also loved inviting the people of Joppa to a Christmas get-together for many years. She would bake dozens of cookies, sausage balls and other finger foods and spend the evening socializing with the good folks from Joppa. Betty also worked at the University of Texas in several departments. One of which had her working at the base of the tower on the day the sniper was in the tower in 1965. She retired from UT after 26 years of service in 1990 while working in Special Services in the Office of the Chancellor. She dearly loved people and made many lifelong friends at UT along the way. In the past two and a half years, she would talk to the care givers, nurses, and physical therapists about Jesus. Betty had a heart for lost souls. Jesus was always on the tip of her tongue and was the core of her being. It should be mentioned that all of this might never have come to fruition had God not spared her life. When, at the age of 4 or 5, she was bitten by a rattlesnake. The scars on her leg from the snake bite were always a conversation starter with the care givers and nurses.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents Louis Silvis Sweet and Estelle Morrow Sweet, husband Tommie who passed in 2003, her brother Lou Jr. and his wife Inez and niece Paula. She leaves behind a son William (Bill) Marvin Lee and wife Cindy, granddaughter Jennifer Lee and fiancé James Hamilton, grandson Derrick Lee and wife Katelyn, 3 great grandsons and niece Ava Schroen and husband Tony.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks for care and visitation shown to Betty for the last two and a half years. You guys just don’t know how grateful we are to have had you in our lives:
• Mary Ruth – Special friend
• Corey – Caregiver
• Kristin - Caregiver
• Tammy - Caregiver
• Visiting Angels
• The loving staff of New Hope Manor of Cedar Park
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Children At Heart Ministries in Round Rock, TX. The Texas Baptist Children’s Home is part of their organization. They provide tremendous services to children and families that are going through trying circumstances.
https://www.cahm.org/Site/Ways-You-Can-Help/donate.aspx
Betty’s life in pictures can be accessed using the link below:
https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-tcPMxb/
A graveside for Betty will be held Saturday, July 2, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Walnut Creek Cemetery, 12062 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wcfishleander.com for the LEE family.
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