Elizabeth "Betty" Alice Warren Davis

Elizabeth "Betty" Alice Davis was a woman for whom actions would speak louder than words. Her life motto might well have been “if it isn’t logical, it’s not important.” The qualities of being fair, just and the ability to recognize what was right were clearly driving forces in Betty’s life. She was also the kind of person who could respect a “do not disturb” sign, whether it was real or implied. She was analytical and observant, with an ability to be simultaneously spontaneous and keenly perceptive. Betty was modest in her thoughts and extremely literal in her actions and in the way, she communicated with others. When Betty said something, she meant it. All those who knew that this was her trademark quality.

Betty was born on December 12, 1942 at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Her parents were Weaver and Florene Warren. Betty was raised in Galveston, Texas and La Marque, Texas. Even as a small child, Betty wanted to understand what was right and what was wrong in any given situation. As Betty grew older, she realized the importance of being treated fairly, and in return, she treated everyone around her the same way. This belief in fair play served Betty well throughout her life and despite her natural shyness; she enjoyed a solid group of friends.

Since Betty sought to treat those around her with respect, she often found herself in the role of playing peacemaker within her family. She was comfortable in working through the types of sibling rivalry situations that quite often occur, because she loved the challenge of conflict resolution. She would look at the most reasonable and practical ways to settle any disputes. Betty was raised with one sibling. She had one brother, Roy Lynn Warren. Betty was constantly involved in activities with her sibling. Betty and her brother had the typical rivalries while growing up, but they shared many life experiences.

During her childhood, family and friends viewed Betty as a quiet and reserved person with what most would consider a calm and tranquil demeanor. In fact, she was a curious child who had the ability to entertain herself and didn’t require much in the way of outside stimulation. A great deal of Betty’s free time was spent learning how and why the things around her worked. She was an active child who loved being around her elders and absorbing all the sensory input that nature could provide. In her spare time as a child, she liked to play with dolls and marbles. As an adult, she loved playing the piano and going to the casino.

The fact that she was curious was an asset to Betty while she was in school. She possessed strong study skills and good concentration. She relished the task of scrutinizing problems, investigating all the options and then solving them. Betty enjoyed tackling the project that was right in front of her and working it straight through to its conclusion. Sometimes, she would become so involved in the process of problem solving that she would lose awareness of her surroundings. Experience was her best teacher. She graduated from La Marque High School in 1960. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was Home Economics.

This same loyalty and up front honesty Betty shared with her friends carried over to other aspects of her life, including her relationships with her family. On October 2, 1965, Betty exchanged wedding vows with Thomas Edwin Davis, at her parent’s home, in La Marque, Texas. The marriage became a solid relationship, due in part to Betty’s skill at bringing fresh energy and clarity to meeting Thomas's needs. She was a great listener who enjoyed the couple’s “together” time, especially when it came to celebrating special occasions.

As the family grew, Betty was easily able to adapt to the changes and challenges of parenthood. Betty was blessed with two children, two daughters, Eva Melissa and Lari Ann. They were also blessed with five grandchildren, Joshua, Colton, Hayden, Trenton, and Eva. Betty was never impulsive in dealing with family problems. Instead, she would carefully think things through before implementing the solution in a logical and objective manner. Betty was a strong, clear communicator who excelled at eliminating confusion by making matters crystal clear to all those involved. At the same time, Betty’s inventive nature could turn some of the boring old household chores into a fun activity for the family.

In her work life, Betty was the kind of person who had no difficulty in taking on a project and seeing it through to its completion. She excelled at dealing with those pesky details that can derail some people, and once she understood exactly why she was working on a project, she could plow full steam ahead. For Betty, being able to grasp the logical components of any task was significant to her in appreciating its importance. Even if she worked alone on an assignment, Betty could incorporate and welcome new insights from co-workers, and she would readily use them if they improved the process. Her primary occupation was a home maker. Betty always made the effort to be a team player, doing what was necessary to get the job done.

Betty’s curious and inquisitive nature influenced her choice of leisure pursuits as well. She applied her strong concentration and analytical skills as to how things worked to her choice of activities. She particularly enjoyed the “alone” time her hobbies provided. Her favorite pursuits were playing games with her grandchildren, camping, going on trips, playing the piano, and singing. Betty was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Betty had the ability to stay calm and the determination to do what was necessary to get the job finished. Betty was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were football, baseball, and softball.

Betty was an asset to any organization she joined. In many ways, she was a woman of action who would rather tackle a job than spend time chatting about irrelevant things. She worked well on small committees and excelled at focusing on the important details without getting bogged down by the unnecessary parts of an assignment. Throughout her later years, Betty was an active member of her daughters’ PTA organizations and the Lions Club.

Religion and faith were important to Betty. She held dear the faith and values she derived from her beliefs. She was a member of First Baptist Church in La Marque, Texas.

Betty appreciated the occasions when she could travel and get away on a vacation. She enjoyed learning about different locales and was open to exploring new and different places. Favorite vacation spots included Colorado, Tennessee, Nevada and Louisiana. She thoroughly enjoyed the task of gathering and analyzing travel information as she prepared for an upcoming trip.

As her retirement approached, Betty viewed the event as just one more project to research and solve. She found new pleasure in fishing, camping with family, attending church, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Betty passed away on October 26, 2016 at Groveton Nursing Home in Groveton, Texas. She is survived by her daughters: Melissa and Lari as well as her grandchildren: Colton, Hayden, Trenton, and Eva. In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas and grandson, Josh. Services were held at Gipson Funeral Home. Betty was laid to rest in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Apple Springs, Texas.

Betty strongly believed that talk is cheap. She was the type of person who would show others her feelings through her actions. She was practical and realistic but could be flexible when the need arose. She had a curiosity about the things around her and tried to experience life directly rather than sit back and talk about it. The experiences she treasured most were those she shared with her loved ones. Elizabeth "Betty" Alice Davis will be greatly missed.