Betty Scott Burnett, 1933–2024
Betty Scott Burnett was born on November 8, 1933, in a home lacking electricity and running water in the “suburb” of Spur, Texas, known as Twin Wells. Betty was a proud alumna of Spur High School, where she was Senior Favorite and FFA Sweetheart (and could have been valedictorian were it not for the dreaded subject of math). Betty met, fell head over heels in love and celebrated almost 60 years of marriage with Vernon Edward Burnett prior to his passing in 2012.
As a stay-at-home mother, she raised three rambunctious kids and efficiently ran the household, before returning to work, serving for over 20 years on staff with the Jimmy Morgan Evangelistic Association.
Betty’s West Texas “grit,” developed while growing up during the Depression, cultivated within her a determination and perseverance that served her well. She battled through 22 surgeries, most of which were a direct result of a horse falling on her when she was a teenager.
God graced Betty with a deep love for her children—not only her own brood, but nieces and nephews whom she adored, and thousands of children’s lives she touched and taught through the ministry of First Baptist Hurst (teaching preschoolers about the love of Jesus from her early 20s well into her 80s). She modeled well Jesus’ words “Let the little children come to me.”
We want to model one of the hallmarks of our mother’s life and express gratitude to those who have cared for her well, specifically Dr. Errol Bryce and his staff, Tosha and Kyndell of Overture Home Care and Abby with Community Hospice.
As a family we sorrow, nevertheless by faith we celebrate, knowing she is reunited with our dad and so many of her family members and friends, and is worshipping in the presence of the Lord Jesus, whom she has loved and served since trusting Him as Savior as an 11-year-old girl through the ministry of First Baptist Church of Spur, Texas.
Betty is survived by her daughters, Jill (David) Williams and Jenny (David) Newberry; her son, Jeff (Jana) Burnett; her grandchildren, better known as the 6 ducks: Brooke (Kyle), Blake (Andrea), Matt (Thresea), Lindsey (Rocky), Sarah (Victor) and Preston (Alexis); and her 10 greatgrandchildren, as well as numerous cherished nieces and nephews.
All whose lives have been enriched by Betty are invited to join the family for a celebration of her life on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Hurst. One of her final requests was that all in attendance wear bright colors, because “it will be a happy day!”
A happy day, indeed. The best is yet to be. Betty’s body will lie in state for open visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Lucas funeral Home in Hurst on Friday, December 6, burial to follow in Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park.
