Betty Jo Lorance

Betty Jo Lorance born March 21, 1939 passed away on July 6, 2015. She was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years R.D. Harrison; parents, William LeRoy Lorance and Ophelia Louavie Lorance; brothers, Robert Lorance, William Lorance. Betty is survived by her children, Pam Morris and husband Jerry, Patty Durham, Gloria Stidham, Tony Harrison and wife Kay; grandchildren, Kevin Morris, Bryan Durham, Casey Durham and wife Julie, Cody Stidham; great grandchildren, Colton Ray Durham (4 months old); sister, Barbara Bigbee; numerous nieces and nephews. In 1952, at a very young age, Betty Jo Lorance, of Ivanhoe, Texas, married R.D. Harrison, age 26, of Telephone, Texas.While life in the 50’s and 60’s brought them 4 kids, Pam first, then Patty two years later, Gloria two years after that, and then Tony in 1961.Times may have been hard, but you would never have known. Betty was a “good hand” at sewing and made all of the girls and herself “matching” dresses – even though Gloria didn’t want to wear them! Betty and R.D. often times moved several times in one year between Bonham, Telephone, Duplex, and Dallas to provide for their kids.She knew how to “stretch a dollar” because there was always three meals a day (including dessert) around the kitchen table; new shoes and clothes at the start of every school year, and while Christmas’s were never big, the one thing you wished for the most was always under the tree (that tree was aluminum of course with a multi-colored light wheel – cause Tony was allergic to real cedar trees you know!) Mom loved to read and was a fabulous cook.Her coconut and chocolate pies, but most of all her “banana pudding”, were the most requested by all the kids.When all four kids were in school, Mom went to work to help make ends meet.Pam and Patty took over cooking supper and washing dishes, often fighting over whether a spoon or dish was clean enough.They got a reprieve when Saturday nights meant supper out at Wyatt’s cafeteria in Pleasant Grove. Mom always loved to dance and “Last Date” by Floyd Cramer was her favorite song.She could still “cut a rug”, which she did at the cruise ship’s disco on our most recent family cruise along the New England and Canadian coast.She kicked off her shoes and “barefooted” her way across the floor, outdancing all of us! Most of all this loving, kind, gentle but strong woman, loved and raised her children the right way.She loved and spoiled her four amazing grandsons, and her precious 4 month old great grandbaby. “Mom”, “Nana”, “Aunt Betty”, “Sis”, “Betty”, she was all of these and more.She will be forever in our hearts and we will carry her love and spirit with us daily to keep this family together.Knowing that our promise will be that one day we will all see her again, and rejoice in the heavenly home of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.