1933
Betty
2013
Betty June Russell
June 14, 1933 — July 19, 2013
Visitation will be 6:00 to 7:00 PM Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at
LaGrone-Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Home Coulter Road Chapel 8310
S. Coulter Amarillo, Texas 79119
Memorial Service will be 11:00AM Wednesday July 24, 2013 at Highland Christian Church 3613 SE. 29th Ave. Amarillo, Texas 79102. Officiant will be Pastor Everett Stevens. Arrangements by LaGrone-Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors 8310 S. Coulter Amarillo, Texas 79119.
Betty was born on June 14, 1933, in Perryton, Texas. She spent her formative years in Clayton, New Mexico. She graduated from Clayton High School, where she met the love of her life, Laurence (Larry) G. Russell. On June 25, 1953, after Larry went into the Navy, Betty and Larry were married and Betty moved to San Diego, Larry's ships' home port. Shortly after the couple had their first child in August of 1955, Larry was honorably discharged from the Navy, and the little family moved to Texas, where their second daughter was born. The family settled in Amarillo, Texas, when Larry joined the Amarillo Police Department. Betty happily lived the rest of her life in Amarillo. Betty started doing secretarial work as a junior in high school, and continued to work until the birth of her third daughter in 1960. She stayed at home through the toddler years of her two youngest sons. In 1965, she re-entered the workforce as a secretary at Mesa Petroleum. She soon became Executive Secretary to Mesa's T. Boone Pickens and her duties expanded to include complex administrative matters. After retiring from Mesa Petroleum, Betty embarked on a second career in retail. In 1986, she and her daughter Rhonda opened and ran "Coffee House" in Wolflin Square. Betty worked at the store for 25 years before she retired, this time for good. After retiring, Betty devoted much of her time to her large family, seeing that all five of her children graduated from West Texas State University and that her daughter Larrilyn graduated from the University of Texas School of Law. Betty cared for her mother and step-father in their home. She regularly visited her Aunt Ada's nursing home and managed her medical and financial affairs. Betty made her home a welcoming place for her children, grandchildren and other frequent visitors from hers and Larry's extended family. She loved to visit and be visited by her grandchildren in Arlington, San Antonio, and Austin. Betty also devoted time and energy to her church and conservative politics.
Betty was preceded in death by infant grandson Seth Daniel Russell, her mother Myrtle Kathryn Freeman, step-father Al Freeman, and sisters Bobby Bobbitt Eckert and Bonny Bobbitt Farr.
Survivors include Betty's husband of 60 years, Laurence G. Russell, daughters Larrilyn Russell Reissig, Terri Lane Calverley, and Rhonda Jane Russell, sons Travis Clay Russell, and Thomas Flint Russell; grandchildren Kate Reissig, Taylor, Tracie and Troy Calverley, and Elizabeth, Matthew and Luke Russell, brothers Buddy Bobbitt, Billy Bobbitt, and Johnny Freeman; sister Linda Freeman, and two devoted Schnauzers, Brandi and Daisy.
MEMORIALS: The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Salvation Army.
LaGrone-Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Home Coulter Road Chapel 8310
S. Coulter Amarillo, Texas 79119
Memorial Service will be 11:00AM Wednesday July 24, 2013 at Highland Christian Church 3613 SE. 29th Ave. Amarillo, Texas 79102. Officiant will be Pastor Everett Stevens. Arrangements by LaGrone-Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors 8310 S. Coulter Amarillo, Texas 79119.
Betty was born on June 14, 1933, in Perryton, Texas. She spent her formative years in Clayton, New Mexico. She graduated from Clayton High School, where she met the love of her life, Laurence (Larry) G. Russell. On June 25, 1953, after Larry went into the Navy, Betty and Larry were married and Betty moved to San Diego, Larry's ships' home port. Shortly after the couple had their first child in August of 1955, Larry was honorably discharged from the Navy, and the little family moved to Texas, where their second daughter was born. The family settled in Amarillo, Texas, when Larry joined the Amarillo Police Department. Betty happily lived the rest of her life in Amarillo. Betty started doing secretarial work as a junior in high school, and continued to work until the birth of her third daughter in 1960. She stayed at home through the toddler years of her two youngest sons. In 1965, she re-entered the workforce as a secretary at Mesa Petroleum. She soon became Executive Secretary to Mesa's T. Boone Pickens and her duties expanded to include complex administrative matters. After retiring from Mesa Petroleum, Betty embarked on a second career in retail. In 1986, she and her daughter Rhonda opened and ran "Coffee House" in Wolflin Square. Betty worked at the store for 25 years before she retired, this time for good. After retiring, Betty devoted much of her time to her large family, seeing that all five of her children graduated from West Texas State University and that her daughter Larrilyn graduated from the University of Texas School of Law. Betty cared for her mother and step-father in their home. She regularly visited her Aunt Ada's nursing home and managed her medical and financial affairs. Betty made her home a welcoming place for her children, grandchildren and other frequent visitors from hers and Larry's extended family. She loved to visit and be visited by her grandchildren in Arlington, San Antonio, and Austin. Betty also devoted time and energy to her church and conservative politics.
Betty was preceded in death by infant grandson Seth Daniel Russell, her mother Myrtle Kathryn Freeman, step-father Al Freeman, and sisters Bobby Bobbitt Eckert and Bonny Bobbitt Farr.
Survivors include Betty's husband of 60 years, Laurence G. Russell, daughters Larrilyn Russell Reissig, Terri Lane Calverley, and Rhonda Jane Russell, sons Travis Clay Russell, and Thomas Flint Russell; grandchildren Kate Reissig, Taylor, Tracie and Troy Calverley, and Elizabeth, Matthew and Luke Russell, brothers Buddy Bobbitt, Billy Bobbitt, and Johnny Freeman; sister Linda Freeman, and two devoted Schnauzers, Brandi and Daisy.
MEMORIALS: The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Salvation Army.
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