Betty Ray Owens

Betty Owens, age 96 of Gatesville, died peacefully at home surrounded by those who loved her on Sunday, October 26, 2025.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, November 3, 2025 at Nevels Cemetery in Tahoka, Texas. Memorial services in Gatesville will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Boots N Saddle Cowboy Church. Her family will receive visitors one hour prior to the memorial service at the church.

Betty Ray Fox was born October 22, 1929 in Spur, Texas to the late Nathan Leonard and Margaret Fox. She grew up and graduated high school at the age of 16 in McAdoo, Texas and attended Texas Tech University for two years until she met and married Elmer Hugh Owens, a veteran soldier and cotton farmer from Tahoka. They made their home there and were active in the Methodist Church, serving as youth counselors and sponsors from 1957-1975. Betty was no stranger to hard work; she weighed handpicked cotton at the end of the rows, drove the pickup pulling trailers of cotton to the gin, sold encyclopedias and vacuum cleaners, was a substitute teacher and worked as a bank teller to help make ends meet when cotton farming was a struggle.

Betty volunteered her time as a Girl Scout leader and band booster and supported many 4H and FFA activities. As Methodist Youth counselors, she and Elmer included their children in many of the church’s youth activities until they were old enough to participate on their own. She participated fully in numerous youth camping trips to Colorado. She and Elmer were always there to drive, cook, guide and serve as witnesses for a generation of youth. Betty also sang in the church choir and was a core participant in the church bell choir, playing multiple notes.

In the 1970s through the 1990s, Betty and Elmer shared a love of adventure, riding motorcycles from Texas to Colorado and delighting their grandchildren with short rides. After Elmer’s passing, Betty spent time with her daughter Vicky in Georgetown before moving to Gatesville to live on a ranch with Buz and Gayle. She became a cherished member of Boots N Saddle Cowboy Church. Her kindness and loving nature soon earned her the names “Mom,” “Miss Betty,” and “Friend.” She was a tireless prayer warrior for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sister and her family of caregivers.

Despite injury and illness during her last few years, Betty never lost her joy in witnessing God’s creations. She never grew tired of watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren grow and mature. She never grew tired of praising God for all her blessings. Her body grew tired but her spirit remained strong and true. We will miss her dearly but rejoice for her reunion with Jesus and family who have gone before her.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elmer Hugh Owens; and sister, Bobby Andrews.

She is survived by her two children, Buz Owens and wife, Gayle, and Vicky Johnson and husband, Steve; four grandchildren, Rebecca and David Grett, Jordan and Kristi Owens, Paul and Kristina Johnson, Travis Owens and Shan Wang; and eight great grandchildren, Jermikal, Lily, Paige, Claire, Elijah, Everett, Tatum and Dylan.