Betty Jo Walker

WALKER, Betty Jo (Brooks) 1929-2014 Born August 13, 1929, the youngest of three daughters to Ray and Bertha Brooks of Mesquite, Betty passed away quietly on Monday, August 18, 2014 at Hannibal Regional Medical Center (MO) after a series of debilitating illnesses.She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Geraldine Brooks Livaudais and Ray Fern Brooks Callaway.She is survived by eldest son Frank Miller, Sr., and wife Gayle of Dallas, daughter Lu-Ann Walker Brandeberry and her partner Mitch Lembke of Atlanta, MO, and youngest son Terry Joseph Godoy and wife Meredith of Round Rock, TX, ten grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Betty was a Mesquite native, the granddaughter of Ben F. Russell and wife Lula, descendants of a pioneer Dallas County family.Raised on her grandfather's cotton farm near what is now Eastfield College, she attended Mesquite schools and at age 17 married her first husband, Ray Seals Miller of Mt. Vernon, TX.Like many post-war brides, she followed her husband from one Army post to another.Divorced in 1948, she returned to the Dallas area, worked a variety of jobs, and married her second husband, Edward L. "Corky" Walker in 1951. Sadly, Betty never found "Mr. Right" although she tried and failed numerous times. One additional marriage to Jorge Godoy Cotter, a Guatemalan pianist of some note resulted in a third child in 1967. There was one constant in Betty’s life.Her boundless energy and relentless optimism.Through all her failures, her zest for life and adventuresome spirit never dimmed.She loved a good time and good times loved her.She loved a good drink (Old Charter was her favorite) and she adored her friends.Betty never met a stranger, knew everyone by their first name, and never forgot a face. During her “Houston/NASA” years, she became the Executive Housekeeper for the Wilbur Clark Crest Hotel chain at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.She dated a host of NASA engineers, briefly married on of them, had a serious fling with the legendary oil well fire fighter Red Adair and fell in love with the Nassau Bay Area. Her second and happiest career began as a dental assistant in 1984 and eventually office manager of Buckner Dental Clinic.Dr. Barnhill and his staff became her second family.Her work ethic, people skills, mentoring, and motherly advice touched the hearts of her co-workers and clients alike.She retired in 2004. Betty loved decorating for Christmas (lavishly at times), sentimental things, candy dishes (always well stocked), M & Ms, her pets, and most especially her children and grandchildren.Betty tried, but never quite understood, the “parenting” part of being a Mom, but we all know in her heart of hearts, she loved us all with that ferocious spirit.And, we loved her, imperfections and all.