Betty Jean Burke

Betty Jean Burke passed away after a long illness on Thursday, July 23, 2009. She was 76 years old. Memorial service: At her request, she will be cremated. A celebration of Betty's life will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Bethel United Methodist Church, 3196 Bethel Road, Weatherford. Memorials: Bethel United Methodist Church, Holland Lake Senior Center, National Kidney Foundation, Brock Chapter of Eastern Star, Shriners Hospitals, Texas Christian University. Betty was a native of Weatherford, born on Aug. 16, 1932, the youngest daughter of Mary Elizabeth and Robert Wesley Thomas. She was an honor graduate of Weatherford High School, attended Texas Business College in Weatherford and became a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) after graduating from Weatherford College's Nursing School in 1978. She was a member of Brock Chapter of Eastern Star and Red Hat. She was especially proud of her hometown and state. Betty was also proud of the fact that "Dallas" star Larry Hagman was in her high school graduating class. She loved the TCU Horned Frogs, the Texas Rangers, her granddaughter, Ashley, and her grand-dogs, Putter and Chloe. She was looking forward to attending Ashley's graduation from the University of North Texas and upcoming wedding. Betty was preceded in death by her mother and father; daughter, Jean Marie Brewster; brother, Wayne Thomas; and sister, Mary Lou Hart. The family expresses its appreciation to Bethel United Methodist Church Minister Katie Meek, officers and members of the Brock Chapter of Eastern Star, the staff and residents at Parkview Terrace, Lake Holland Senior Center, Lake Holland Nursing Home and Tarrant Dialysis in Weatherford, and the doctors, nurses and staff at Plaza Medical Center and Kindred Hospital in Fort Worth. Survivors: Children, son, Tom Burke and daughter-in-law, Mary Burke, of Fort Worth; granddaughter, Ashley Marie Brewster and her fiancé, Chris Proctor, of Lewisville; brother, Charles (C.W.) Thomas of Weatherford; nieces, Betty Ann Wright of Weatherford, Kay Miller of Whitney, Shirley Williams of Dallas, and Ellen Bullock of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; nephews, Charles Wayne Thomas of Lorena and James R. (Jimmy) Thomas of Waco; and a host of other loving family members and friends.