Betty Ann Edwards Secker's Obituary
Betty Ann Edwards Secker passed from this life to her life in Heaven on November 28, 2020. She was born in Littlefield, Texas on March 28, 1928 to Charles “Dick” and Ruth Edwards. Betty grew up on a small cotton farm picking cotton after school with her sister and brothers. Her life experiences there taught her about hard work and endurance. She attended North Texas State University (now UNT) with her sister Charlsie and they shared a room in a boarding house in Denton during their years there. After graduation in 1949, they set off for the big city of Dallas to work. There she met her husband Fred Secker, and they married in 1950, settling in old East Dallas. Betty and Fred had four children: Ruth, Fred Jr., Charles and Ann. They moved to Lakewood, where she was always an active and involved parent in her children’s schools- Lakewood Elementary, JL Long Jr. High and Woodrow Wilson High. She served as PTA president at Woodrow for several years. After their children were grown, Betty and Fred traveled the world, from Europe to Asia to Africa. Besides her love of travel, Betty was an avid reader, focusing on the history of World War ll. She and Fred attended the Dallas Symphony and Dallas Opera performances for decades, and Betty became a true aficionado of classical music. Always the proud mother and grandmother, “Mamaw” as she was called, loved having her grandchildren in the house and left them with many happy memories there.
Betty was a devoted servant of God and attended St. Paul’s Evangelical and Reformed Church for 70 years where she was always active. As a member of the East Dallas YMCA she helped coordinate youth activities during the 1970’s. She also participated in Meals on Wheels, the Greater Lakewood Shepherd Center for Senior Citizens, The Dallas Symphony League, Dallas Opera Guild and Westlake Republican Women.
She is survived by her daughter Ruth Chambers, son Fred and wife Michele, son Charles and wife Kelly and daughter Ann Hughes and husband Todd; sister Charlsie Underwood of Austin, grandchildren Anne Chambers Spencer and husband Mike; John Chambers, Grace, Jake, Bert, Dimitri and Anna Secker; Elizabeth Martin and husband Tyler and Christopher Smith. She also has two great-grandchildren, Henry Barton Spencer and Emma Grace Martin. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Fred, and her two brothers, Melvin and Wayne Edwards.
Betty loved her home on Velasco Avenue where she lived for 52 years and loved her neighborhood of Lakewood in Dallas. For years she walked to White Rock Lake early in the morning with her longtime lady friends she had met through Woodrow PTA. She enjoyed Thursday breakfasts with her old PTA buddies and her neighborhood book club. She was a proud member of the “Greatest Generation” and a true patriot as well. Betty was the first to say she had had a wonderful life.
For those who knew her, a memorial service will be held on Friday, December 11 at 1:30PM at St. Paul Church, 6464 E. Lovers Lane in Dallas. Charitable donations may be made to The Dallas Opera or the charity of your choice.
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