Jack Wesley Betts

Services for Jack Wesley Betts, 93, will be held on Monday, April 4, 2016, at 2:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home with Revs. Buddy Powell and Roy Savage officiating. Burial will follow at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Jack Betts passed away on Thursday, March 31, 2016, at Gresham, Texas. He was born December 20, 1922, in Cornett, Cass County, Texas, the son of Charles Dupree and Nancy Janie Leftwich Betts. Jack has been a member of Flint United Methodist Church since 1987 and was a Chairman of the Board. He was a charter member of Pollard United Methodist Church in Tyler from 1955 to 1987 where he sang in the choir. He graduated from Naples High School in 1941 and attended North Texas Agricultural College in Arlington. Toward the end of World War II he served on the submarine USS Hake #256. After the war he earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial education and a master’s degree in education from East Texas State Teachers College. He taught industrial arts in Velasco, Hawkins, and Van public schools before starting the first two-year vocational drafting program in the state at Tyler Junior College in 1955. He won the Outstanding Teacher Award, and later retired in 1985. He was always devoted to his students and their success, and kept in touch with many through the years. Jack married Sue Porter of Mt. Pleasant on April 12, 1952. They were married almost 64 years. He was a member of the East Texas Farm and Ranch Club, The Smith County Soil and Water District, and was a president of the East Texas Industrial Arts Association. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Lila Gibson, Nina Harbour, Ila Mae Childress, Bernie McCord, Myra Hummel, and Faye Whittenberg, and brothers Otice, J. D., Melvin, Grady, Donald, and Billy Betts. He is survived by his wife Sue, and children Vicki Betts of Tyler, Kent (Sue) Betts of North Zulch, Lynn Betts of Plantersville, and Jill (Bob) DeSplinter of Mustang, Oklahoma; grandchildren Rusty (Holly) Betts of Temple, Travis (Traci) Betts of Dallas, Faith, Peter, and David DeSplinter of Mustang; step grandsons David Norwood of College Station and Jeff Norwood (Misty) of Belton; step granddaughter April Johnson (Ben) of Bremerton, Washington; great-grandson Porter Mills Betts of Dallas; step great-grandchildren Chandler and Chyann Norwood of College Station, Kade and Ryland Norwood of Belton, and Jaxton and Elliot Johnson of Bremerton; as well as many nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Rusty Betts, Travis Betts, Casey Betts, Tracy Betts, Mark Betts, and Jeffrey Norwood. Honorary pallbearers will be Roy Branham, Carol Robinson, Richard Minter, Bill Canfield, and Edward Ketcham. Visitation is scheduled from 1:00 to 2:00 PM on Monday April 4, 2016, at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. If desired, memorials may be made to Flint United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 215, Flint, Texas 75762 or to St. Paul’s Children Foundation, 1358 E. Richards St, Tyler, TX 75702.

Jack Wesley Betts

December 20, 1922 - March 31, 2016