Betty Jo Dooley

Betty "Jo" (Simmons) Dooley, age 79, of San Antonio died August 22, 2012 peacefully at home surrounded by those she loved. She was born January 5th, 1933 in Hope, Arkansas to James Milton Simmons and Bonnie Evelyn (Browning) Simmons. She was preceded in death by her husband, Byron Neal Dooley, M.D., who died July 31st 2010.

Mrs. Dooley graduated from Fayetteville High School in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1950. She attended Texas Christian University and became a licensed R.N. in 1953. She then met her husband, Dr. Dooley at the VA Hospital in Houston, Texas. He asked her to move with him to San Francisco where they were married in 1954. Because of Dr. Dooley's military and medical career, the couple moved from San Francisco, CA to Albuquerque, NM to Houston, TX to Savannah, GA and finally, to San Antonio, TX.

She enjoyed traveling, shopping, reading, music, all types of exercise, being politically active and continuing her education. Mrs. Dooley obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1984. She was especially interested in charities that impact the lives of children including March of Dimes, Any Baby Can and Ronald McDonald House. Although Mrs. Dooley's formal nursing career was brief, she found ways to use those skills in taking care of her own aging parents, Dr. Dooley's parents and finally Dr. Dooley. Her devotion to ensuring the health and happiness of everyone around her, especially her children, will never be forgotten.

Mrs. Dooley is survived by her four children: Sandi (Dooley) Sullivan and husband John of Chicago, Dr. Byron Scott Dooley and his wife Melissa of San Antonio, Clay Neal Dooley and his fiance Barbara Castellanos of Houston and Kristen (Dooley) Benavides and her husband Roberto of Austin and seven grandchildren: Michelle June Dooley, Byron Sean Dooley, Stephen Neal Sullivan, Byron John Sullivan, Jack Dempsey Sullivan, Avery Elise Benavides and Natalie Jo Benavides.

The family will have a private ceremony in memory of her and request that memorial donations be made to Any Baby Can, The March of Dimes, Ronald McDonald House or the American Parkinson's Disease Foundation.