Betty Whitaker

A memorial service celebrating the life of Betty Kelly Whitaker will be held at 2 PM Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at Pollard United Methodist Church located at 3030 Copeland Road, Tyler. The service will be officiated by Rev. Rob Fisher, Rev. Richard Luna and Rev. Stephanie Scott. The family will receive friends at Stewart Family Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 from 5:30-7:00 PM. Betty was born December 6, 1936 to Jeff Lee and Willie Kelly of Ruston, LA and passed away April 1, 2012 after a valiant fight with cancer. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Marge Moore of Tyler. Betty graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and obtained a Masters degree in Education from the University of Texas at Tyler. She retired from Tyler ISD after a 31 year teaching career at Ramey, Austin and Peete Elementary and Hubbard Middle School. While attending Louisiana Tech, Betty met the love of her life, Larry Whitaker, and they married on January 29, 1956. They embarked on a 56 year adventure filled with love, laughter, family, church, travel and friends. In addition to Larry, three children and their families are left to cherish the memory of their Mom: Kathy Kapka and husband Robert of Whitehouse, Julie McLean and husband Ron of Tyler and Jeffrey Daniel Whitaker and fiancé Natalie Ignacio of Ft. Hood. She was known as BB to the seven grandchildren she adored: Craig McLean, Mark McLean, Taylor Hill, Kevin Kapka, Elliott Hill, Daniel Whitaker, Ali Whitaker and their mother Heather Whitaker. Betty is also survived by nephew John Moore of Shreveport, LA and niece Susan Wescott of Houston and several cousins. Pollard United Methodist Church was Betty’s church home for 45 years. She was an active member of the Builder’s Sunday School Class, where she made lifelong friends whom she cherished dearly. Her involvement at Pollard included United Methodist Women, UMCOR mission trips, Bible school teacher, Church office volunteer, Kids’ Kaleidoscope board and Pastor/Parish Relations Committee. Betty’s other interests included the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, reading club, mahjong group and bridge club. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to Pollard United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or the Hospice of East Texas Foundation.

Betty Whitaker

December 6, 1936 - April 1, 2012