Betty Grace Selman Watts

Betty Grace Selman Watts passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 21, 2017 in Lufkin, Texas. Betty was a loving and compassionate daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Betty was born on January 4, 1929 and attended schools in Houston, Texas. She married the love of her life, Espy, after graduation from Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1949. She taught 1st grade in the Houston Independent School District until her retirement in 1980 and was given on honorary lifetime membership to the PTA. She has lived in Lufkin since that time.

Betty was a lifetime member of the Presbyterian church-- charter member of St. Giles Presbyterian Church in Houston and later a member of First Presbyterian Church of Lufkin. Betty loved her church family very much. She lived a life of service to others through her faith and volunteerism. She was a long-time member of the church choir and the Presbyterian Women’s organization. In 2015, she was presented with an Honorary Life Membership to that organization.

She cherished her friends and family and leaves behind many who adored her. Betty is survived by her son, Espy Gregg Watts and daughter-in-law, Georgia; daughter-in-law, Patricia Reichert; grandchildren, Jennifer Watts Karlstrom and husband Olle, Jay Watts, and Ian Reichert-Watts; great grandchildren, Signe, Helena, and Lars Karlstrom.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 65 years, Espy Garner Watts; her son, Jim Alan Watts; and her parents, Wilson and Gracie Selman.

Services for Betty will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 25, 2017 in the First Presbyterian Church in Lufkin with Dr. Brian Wiggins officiating. Interment will follow in Brookside Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at Gipson Funeral Home.

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.