Bettye Faye Thacker

Bettye was born on August 17, 1922 in Chalk, Texas, and was the eighth of nine children. She grew up in Cottle County, Texas and graduated from Paducah High School in 1939 at the age of sixteen.

Bettye married Roy C. Thacker on December 25th, 1940. They had two daughters: Jeannette White and Pamela Dunlap. They moved to Midland in 1956 to raise their family, and Bettye worked as a jewelry sales clerk and eventually opened a day care in her home.

She attended First Baptist Church for over 45 years and volunteered in the church nursery. Bettye was affectionately known as Mother, Grandmother, and Mrs. T.

Bettye grew up during the Great Depression and World War II and faced sorrow and poverty from a young age. Yet the hardships she faced only strengthened her resolve to serve as a source of love and stability to anyone who had the pleasure of meeting her.

God used the experiences of her life to shape her character and instill in her a love for others that was selfless and unconditional. She read her Bible every single night, walked by faith, and sought to be a living testament to God's grace and provision. Her steadfast walk with Jesus made her the picture of strength, wisdom, and dignity. Bettye maintained a youthful vibrancy, had an amazing sense of humor, propensity to doodle, sing, and hum her way through her day. For her family, her home was a welcome refuge of peace and comfort. Grandmother always had a homemade banana bread or cake ready to serve her guests.

Bettye was a great facilitator of relationships and had a way of creating an environment of security and trust where you could feel at ease. Her gentle, unassuming spirit was coupled with a firm resolve to show grace, love, and tenderness to others. She humbly provided the means for others to shine and loved to celebrate the accomplishments and milestones of others. She showed up for the special moments in life - birthdays, graduations, weddings.

In times of celebration and sorrow she was a constant source of support for her family. Bettye strove to carry others' burdens and encourage the people in her life however she could: cooking, listening, porch swinging, letter writing, or sitting in silence.

Anyone who entered her home walked away feeling loved and appreciated. Even in the height of her pain, her number one complaint was that her grand kids didn't hug her neck hard enough. Bettye loved fiercely and unconditionally both her family and each person that God put in her life. She was never idle, was slow to speak and quick to listen, and had a special love for children.

During her 96 years on earth, Bettye was unwavering in her love for her Savior, her family, and the multitude of friends she made over the years.

She lived a life of contentment, and although she would profess to not have ventured far beyond Chalk County, Texas, her impact for God's kingdom extends much further.

Bettye was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin Oscar Shavor and Mary Ethel Shavor, and her four brothers and four sisters. She is survived by her two daughters Pam Dunlap and Jeannette White (Jim). Grandchildren, Kevin Dean (Rebecca), Lisa (Allen), Brent Hill (Emily), Brandon Hill (Kimberly), Brittany Dobson (Bubba), Kevin Dean Land, Lisa Hubert; and ten great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m.,

Thursday, October 18th, in the Chapel of First Baptist Church, Midland, TX.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to

First Baptist Church, Midland, TX or the charity of your choice.