1928
Betty
2010
Betty W. Rountree
March 6, 1928 — January 31, 2010
Harlingen, TX:
Betty Jane Rountree, 81, beloved mother and grandmother, passed into the hands of the Lord on Sunday, January 31, 2010, with her family at her side. She was born on March 6, 1928, in Birmingham, Alabama to Herbert and Dorothy West.
After graduating from high school in Washington, D.C. in 1946, Betty attended Touro Infirmary Nursing School in New Orleans, where she met and married William “Bill” Rountree, who was attending medical school at Tulane University. Betty and Bill lived in the exciting French Quarter in New Orleans until Bill graduated in 1948. After a short period of time in private practice in Mississippi, Bill re-enlisted in the military by joining the Air Force. Bill and Betty moved many times as is typical with military families, and eventually lived in Biloxi, Mississippi; San Diego, California; Black Mountain, North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; Tachikawa, Japan; Montgomery, Alabama; Salina, Kansas and Laredo, Texas before retiring from the Air Force and moving to Harlingen, Texas in 1965 to work at the State of Texas Tuberculosis Hospital. Along the way, Bill and Betty had five children, William III, Jean, Tina, Tom and Piper.
In 1968, Bill suffered a massive stroke at the young age of 46 years. With four young children still at home, and one in college, Betty suddenly found herself in the role of sole caretaker of and provider for the family of seven. Her decision to enter the field of real estate proved to be a wise choice. During the next twenty-five years, Betty enjoyed a very successful career as a real estate broker first with the Tom Mason Agency, and later with Century 21 Johnston Company. Betty was well respected for her real estate knowledge, her ethics and her desire to go “the extra mile” for the people she represented. She served as President of the Harlingen Board of Realtors.
Betty was always busy with her hobbies, and with each artistic endeavor she always excelled. In the Air Force her hobby was ceramics, and she was the editor of a publication for Air Force wives. In the 1970's, she made beautiful stained glass works of art. In the 1980's she became a certified master gardener. Beginning in the 1990's and until just before she died, her passion was quilting having made dozens of uniquely beautiful quilts for her children and grandchildren. However, her most accomplished hobby of all was her gourmet cooking ability. She excelled at Southern, New Orleans, Mexican, Japanese, and Chinese cooking. To say that her cheese cakes were always in demand at family gatherings was an understatement.
Betty will always be remembered by her family and friends as loving, kind, wise, and always there to help a child or grandchild in need. At the same time she was fiercely
Independent, strong in her convictions and had a clear sense of right and wrong. She possessed an unfailing mother’s love for each of her children and grandchildren until the day she died.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 49 years and her brother, Buddy West.
She is survived by her son, William C. Rountree III, his wife Cindy and their two children, Megan and William IV; her daughter, Jean Seale and her husband, Steve, and Jean’s three children, Sara, Khrista and Dustin; her daughter, Tina Rountree and her husband, Lane, and Tina’s two sons, Michael and John; her son, Tom Rountree, his four children, Casey, Adam, Zachary, and Taylor Sage; and her daughter, Piper Rountree, and her three children, Joceyln, Paxton and Calli. Betty is also survived by her sister, Phyllis Riggs, and her cousin Jean Hall.
A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home in Harlingen, Texas, with Pastor Aaron Saenz officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 321 East Harrison, Harlingen, Texas 78550.
Betty Jane Rountree, 81, beloved mother and grandmother, passed into the hands of the Lord on Sunday, January 31, 2010, with her family at her side. She was born on March 6, 1928, in Birmingham, Alabama to Herbert and Dorothy West.
After graduating from high school in Washington, D.C. in 1946, Betty attended Touro Infirmary Nursing School in New Orleans, where she met and married William “Bill” Rountree, who was attending medical school at Tulane University. Betty and Bill lived in the exciting French Quarter in New Orleans until Bill graduated in 1948. After a short period of time in private practice in Mississippi, Bill re-enlisted in the military by joining the Air Force. Bill and Betty moved many times as is typical with military families, and eventually lived in Biloxi, Mississippi; San Diego, California; Black Mountain, North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; Tachikawa, Japan; Montgomery, Alabama; Salina, Kansas and Laredo, Texas before retiring from the Air Force and moving to Harlingen, Texas in 1965 to work at the State of Texas Tuberculosis Hospital. Along the way, Bill and Betty had five children, William III, Jean, Tina, Tom and Piper.
In 1968, Bill suffered a massive stroke at the young age of 46 years. With four young children still at home, and one in college, Betty suddenly found herself in the role of sole caretaker of and provider for the family of seven. Her decision to enter the field of real estate proved to be a wise choice. During the next twenty-five years, Betty enjoyed a very successful career as a real estate broker first with the Tom Mason Agency, and later with Century 21 Johnston Company. Betty was well respected for her real estate knowledge, her ethics and her desire to go “the extra mile” for the people she represented. She served as President of the Harlingen Board of Realtors.
Betty was always busy with her hobbies, and with each artistic endeavor she always excelled. In the Air Force her hobby was ceramics, and she was the editor of a publication for Air Force wives. In the 1970's, she made beautiful stained glass works of art. In the 1980's she became a certified master gardener. Beginning in the 1990's and until just before she died, her passion was quilting having made dozens of uniquely beautiful quilts for her children and grandchildren. However, her most accomplished hobby of all was her gourmet cooking ability. She excelled at Southern, New Orleans, Mexican, Japanese, and Chinese cooking. To say that her cheese cakes were always in demand at family gatherings was an understatement.
Betty will always be remembered by her family and friends as loving, kind, wise, and always there to help a child or grandchild in need. At the same time she was fiercely
Independent, strong in her convictions and had a clear sense of right and wrong. She possessed an unfailing mother’s love for each of her children and grandchildren until the day she died.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 49 years and her brother, Buddy West.
She is survived by her son, William C. Rountree III, his wife Cindy and their two children, Megan and William IV; her daughter, Jean Seale and her husband, Steve, and Jean’s three children, Sara, Khrista and Dustin; her daughter, Tina Rountree and her husband, Lane, and Tina’s two sons, Michael and John; her son, Tom Rountree, his four children, Casey, Adam, Zachary, and Taylor Sage; and her daughter, Piper Rountree, and her three children, Joceyln, Paxton and Calli. Betty is also survived by her sister, Phyllis Riggs, and her cousin Jean Hall.
A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home in Harlingen, Texas, with Pastor Aaron Saenz officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 321 East Harrison, Harlingen, Texas 78550.
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