Betty Jean Stivers' Obituary
Betty Jean (Honey) Stivers, age 90, passed away peacefully in the early hours of July 5, 2020 in Carrollton, Texas. Betty was born on July 30, 1929, in Vinita, Oklahoma, to Grace Lee Honey and James Madison Honey. She was the oldest of four siblings: William Lee Honey, James “Jim” Honey, and Harold Mason Honey. She graduated from Vinita High School in 1947 and went to work at the Bell Telephone Company as an operator. On Halloween night in 1954, Betty met the love of her life, Jimmy Reed Stivers. When they first laid eyes on one another, he fell hard for her and she quickly fell in love with his dark hair, white teeth, and beautiful eyes. Jim had a drink or two before meeting her that night, and when Betty said she wouldn’t go with someone who drank, he never had a sip to drink again in his life. Just under seven months after meeting, Jim and Betty were married in Vinita, Oklahoma, on May 28, 1955. The couple served the Lord together and experienced 58 beautiful years of marriage before Jim’s passing on January 5, 2014. On July 5, 2020, the couple was reunited after exactly 6 years and 6 months apart.
After being married for eleven months, Betty and Jim had their first child, Larry Wayne Stivers, in April 1956. In September 1959, the couple had their second child, Ronald Lee Stivers. Jim and Betty took the kids on RV camping trips all throughout their childhood, and Betty enjoyed those despite the fact that she was cold for the large majority of the trips. Betty became a homemaker when she married and had children, and she made most of the boys’ clothes that they wore growing up. She became a very talented cook and baker, and she made the best pies you’ve ever tasted. The banana cream pie was life-changing! Although she made incredible meals of her own, Betty also enjoyed going out to eat with her husband, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, especially to get chicken fried steak, chicken and dumplings, shrimp, a reuben sandwich, or a juicy cheeseburger.
Betty became a Christian at a young age, and Jesus was a large part of her life ever since. Throughout her life, Betty loved going to church, attending Bible study with her friends, reading the Bible, singing hymns, and living as an example of what it means to be a follower of Christ and woman of God. Betty loved others well with the love of Christ. She could always make others smile with her sense of humor, her supportive and encouraging words, her selfless and thoughtful gifts, and her abundant joy, generosity, kindness, and love. When she got married, Betty carried a small white Bible in her hands as she walked down the aisle. Together, Jim and Betty were strongly rooted in the Lord and were very involved in their communities of faith. After moving from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Mesquite, Texas, in 1969, Jim and Betty were very involved in their church, Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Upon moving in 1998, the couple found a new church home at The Heights Church in Plano, Texas. When she moved to CHRISTUS St. Joseph Village in 2019, Betty enjoyed attending their interdenominational services with her friends.
Anyone who knew Betty well knew that she was a huge fan of the Rangers and Mavericks and that she never missed a game. She always looked forward to watching them play. In the world of college sports, Betty always liked to root for teams from Oklahoma, especially Oklahoma State University (Jim’s alma mater). When her television was not on a sports channel, you could often find her watching the Food Network to learn more recipes or playing along with the games on the Game Show Network. Betty also enjoyed spending time making gifts for other people, crafting, sewing, and solving puzzles, especially when she could do so while drinking a cold glass of Diet Coke. She always enjoyed talking with her neighbors and the staff at CHRISTUS St. Joseph Village, going to get her hair and nails done, and above all else, talking to and spending time with family. Every second spent with her was a blessing.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Grace Lee Honey and James Madison Honey; and brothers, William, Jim, and Madison Honey; and her husband of 58 years, Jimmy Reed Stivers. Betty is survived by her son, Larry Stivers and wife, Suzie of Mesquite, Texas, and their two children and five grandchildren; son, Ron Stivers and wife, Denise of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and their two children; brother-in-law, Lewis and wife, Joan of Plano, Texas, their two children and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.
Betty’s legacy will live on through all who had the opportunity to know, love, and be loved by her, and she will be tremendously missed.
A memorial service and celebration of life is planned for 5:00pm on Saturday, July 11th at Restland Funeral Home’s Memorial Chapel (13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75243). Due to COVID-19 concerns, masks will be worn and physical distancing will be practiced during the ceremony in order to ensure that guests can safely attend her celebration of life. Anyone will be more than welcome to attend.
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