Betty Blackburn's Obituary
Betty Jo Norris Blackburn (Mimi) passed away peacefully on May 15th in Dallas, Texas after being continuously surrounded by her family. She lived 94 years filled with family, friends, church, and many adventures. Betty will be deeply missed by all the people lucky enough to have known and loved her.
Betty Jo Norris was born in Clarksville, Texas to her beloved mother, Mary Kathleen Williamson and father Vernon Ray Norris. She was the first of 5 siblings to whom she adored and remained very close. At just 17, Betty moved to Dallas, Texas and started working at Hart Furniture. There, she met the love of her life, Jack Lane Blackburn. After marrying in 1949, Betty and Jack welcomed their sons, or as she called them “my sweet boys”: John Lane Blackburn and Mark Luther Blackburn. Betty was a devoted mother and wife and eventually became a loving grandmother and great-grandmother. Family was extremely important to Betty which is obvious through her extraordinarily close relationships with her siblings, sons, and grandchildren, all who love her very much. Those that were lucky enough to have known Betty, know she was unable to sit still for long and spent many beautiful days in her garden. Betty’s love for gardening was shown in her beautiful yard and flower beds, and her love for cooking was obvious to any of us that sat down for a meal at Betty’s house. Her yard on Coppedge Lane was played in by her sons and grandchildren on nice Texas days and nights and her kitchen was always full with her family and the smell of her famous cornbread (no sugar). Betty was a member of First Presbyterian Church for over 70 years and spent every Sunday with The Allman Class where she found life-long friendships. Her Christian faith was strong which was shown in the way she lived her life and treated people around her. Betty (Mimi) lived a life full of love will be missed by many, especially come Christmas Eve.
Betty Jo Blackburn is survived by her loving sons, John Lane Blackburn III and Mark Luther Blackburn, her grandsons, John Lane Blackburn Sr., Robert Bennett Blackburn, Austin Luther Blackburn, and her only granddaughter, Brittany Lane Blackburn, her great-grandson, John Lane Blackburn Jr, her brother, Pete Norris, her sister, Barbra Walters, and her beloved nieces and nephews and friends. Betty will be welcomed into Heaven by her husband, Jack Lane Blackburn, mother “mama”, Kathleen Norris, father, Vernon Ray Norris, sister, Anne Stricker, and brother, Sonny Norris.
Services for Mrs. Blackburn will be held at the Graveside in Restland Memorial Park Dallas, TX
Please meet the family in the main lobby of Restland Funeral Home by 2:45pm for the Funeral Procession.
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Share a story where Betty's kindness touched your heart.
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