Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Potter Fry Jacobs' Obituary
Betty was born in Waco, Texas to Anna Louise (Gilmore) and George Edwin Potter. Her maternal grandparents were Grace May (Sherrard) and George Ellsworth Gilmore of Independence, Kansas. Her paternal grandparents were Julia (Craig) and Frank Edward Potter of Natoma, Kansas. During her childhood she lived near the Baylor University campus in Waco, Texas, in Los Angeles, California, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Kingsville and College Station, Texas. She graduated from A&M Consolidated High School in College Station and from The University of Texas in Austin, where she was a member of Tri-Delta Sorority. She also attended Texas A&M University.
After graduating from The University of Texas, Betty lived in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, Texas, Washington D.C., Chevy Chase, Maryland, Spanish Wells, Bahamas and Coral Gables, Florida before returning to Dallas in 1977. Each of her four children were born in a different city.
Betty was a lifelong student as well as a teacher. She taught Health Education and Fitness for 18 years. She owned and managed her own fitness studio while living in Coral Gables, Florida. After her return to Dallas, she taught at Brookhaven Community College. She worked in Commercial Real Estate Development for both Connell Development and Criswell Development companies. She also worked for Jenkens & Gilchrist Law Firm. She raised cattle on her farm near College Station and owned and managed several residential rental properties there.
Betty was a longtime member of Highland Park Methodist Church and its Wesleyan Fellowship Sunday School Class. She served on the Advisory Boards of The Dallas Summer musicals, The Lisa Landry Childress Foundation at Baylor Hospital and The University (Godbey) Lecture Series of Dedman College at S.M.U.
Betty also enjoyed being a member of the Lide Spragins Book Review Club, The Mentor Study Club, The Tri-Delta Alumnae, Pat Webb's Bible study group, and her neighborhood garden club. Whether discovering a different way of life in Juneau, Alaska or in Fredericksburg, Texas, she enjoyed the adventure of travel. In learning about her family's history, she liked to visit the places in the UK where her ancestors had lived before coming to America. She liked to compare the places they left with the places where they eventually settled to establish a new life in this country.
Betty is survived by her son Laurence D. Fry of Houston TX, his son Derek L. Fry of Houston TX and daughter Natalie M. Fry of Portland OR. Betty is also survived by her daughter Deborah Fry Wilson and husband David S. Wilson of Tyler TX, their daughter Sara W. Wynn and husband Yan Wynn of Tyler TX, son Steven S. Wilson and wife Kellie Wilson of Austin TX, and daughter Frances E. Wilson and husband David M. Fryauf of Rio Rancho NM. In addition, Betty is survived by six great-grandchildren on her daughter Deborah’s side of the family.
By marriage, Betty is also survived by stepchildren and step-grandchildren, including Lyn Jacobs Miller, her husband Bill Miller and step-grandchildren Susan Miller Nussell and Dylan Miller, all of Irving, TX. Betty is survived by stepson Kendall Ross Jacobs and his three daughters, and seven step-grandchildren.
Betty was preceded in death by her first husband Errol D. Fry, second husband Ross L. Jacobs, parents Anna and George E. Potter, brother Robert G. Potter, daughter Georgia Ann Fry and son James D. Fry.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Betty to the Benevolence Fund of the Wesleyan Fellowship Class of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas TX and/or CC Young Senior Living's Foundation for Body, Mind & Spirit Fund in Dallas TX.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2022 from 6:00-8:00pm at Restland Funeral Home, located at 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75324. Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, August 14, 2022 at 2:00pm in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home.
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