Betty A. Thomas' Obituary
Betty A. Thomas, affectionately known as BJ by her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, died peacefully at home from cancer at the age of ninety on April 15, 2020. She was born on July 17, 1929 in Nacogdoches, Texas, the only child of Zola E. Avery and Rena Kingham Avery.
Betty graduated from Alamo Heights High School in a commencement celebrated in San Antonio, Texas fifty years after the polio epidemic caused the cancelation of the original ceremony in 1946. After completing high school at age 16, she went on to Baylor University where she studied under the legendary Roxy Grove and Dean Sternberg. She graduated in 1950 with a B.S. in Music. She later was an active member of Dallas Music Teachers Association and National Pianists Guild for many years. After retiring from private piano teaching, Betty studied piano for several years with Stephen Nielson, and continued playing until shortly before her death.
While at Baylor, she met Jim L. Thomas, and the two were wed in 1951 and happily married for fifty years. While Jim was serving in Korea, Betty lived with her parents in University Park and gave birth to their firstborn, Roy Michael. They later lived in McAlister, Oklahoma, where their second child, Marsha, was born, and later in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas, where Maggie and Jamie were born and all four children were raised. They were active members of Park Cities Baptist Church for over sixty years.
Up until the last year of her life Betty lived a full and healthy life, boasting not a single hospitalization in over 60 years. She enjoyed the fellowship and teaching in her various Sunday School classes through the years, as well as music, tennis, bridge, book clubs, being with her family, and travel with her husband and close friends. She traveled throughout the U.S., and to various places in Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Europe, and Asia.
In addition to her parents and husband, Betty was predeceased by two grandchildren, Richard Michael Thomas and Shannon Renee Brown, and most of her closest friends. She leaves behind her son, Mike Thomas and his wife, Susan, whom she always considered her fourth daughter; Marsha Kemp and her husband, David; Maggie Brown and her husband, Kennith; and her youngest daughter, Jamie Loker and her husband, Jim; thirteen grandchildren, Will Thomas, Ginny Thomas Taylor, Megan Kemp Young, Zach Kemp, Dustin Brown, Stephanie Brown Weatherford, Christopher Loker, Timothy Loker, Michael Loker, Hannah Loker Bui, Rebekah Loker Nicholson, Jonathan Loker, Deborah Loker; twenty-two great-grandchildren; and quite a few living friends who will miss her terribly.
Due to the Covid19 restrictions, there will be no memorial service at this time. She will be honored at a private burial on Monday, April 20. Those who wish to remember Betty in a special way may make donations in her memory to the music program at Park Cities Baptist Church, the Dallas Arboretum, or a charitable organization of your choice. Arrangements by Restland.
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