BETTYE SUE GIBBS SMITH
We lost our mom and Memaw, Bettye Sue Gibbs Smith, on May 9, 2025, and the world has changed for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bettye was born July 2, 1929, in Memphis, Texas, to Lewis and Lena Gibbs. She was raised in Memphis during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression and had stories of these events she passed on to her children when asked. She lost her mother at an early age, making her the only child of a 64-year-old father, which made her very independent and self-reliant.Through it all, Bettye overcame all obstacles when presented with challenges. She self-taught herself cooking, sewing, crafting and other life skills, while she also making friends her entire life. In high school, at 5’10” with dark, red hair, she was voted most beautiful girl.
After high school graduation, she briefly attended West Texas State University, until she attracted Harold Smith, a Memphis returning war veteran. After a whirlwind romance, they were married in the Methodist Parsonage in 1949 and undertook a life of farming. Bettye and Harold were made for each other, with card games being one pursuit that they undertook on a very regular basis throughout their 57 year marriage, with church and semiregular trips to Las Vegas to keep their card skills up. She was a legendary cook and hostess and entertained frequently. During the course of the marriage, they moved from Memphis to Borger, Texas, then Lubbock, Texas, and back to Memphis during the drought years, when the dry-land farms could not support the family. In 1962, the family returned to Memphis and resumed farming and life in Hall County.
Bettye was mother to three living children and is survived by Russell Smith, wife Deborah, children Christopher Smith, Clay Smith and Elizabeth Galles and six great-grandchildren; Karyn Nicolaou, husband Tim, children John Nicolaou and Zach Nicolaou and one great-grandchild; and Matthew Smith. As a mom of the 50s and 60s, her life was centered around church, bridge club and driving her kids to the many events and extracurricular activities she encouraged them to be in, while being Cub Scout Den Mother, Texas Tech University museum docent and Memphis Cyclone Booster. After her driving skills were no longer the primary focus, she concentrated on handicrafts with quilting, sewing, stain glassmaking and painting, all while maintaining friendships with people she had interacted with.
The Smiths remained active after retiring from farming with golfing, traveling and volunteering (they had a voting polling place in their garage during elections) and were active poll-watchers, as well as driving volunteers for Meals on Wheels. Bettye lost Harold in 2006 and lived independently in Memphis, until she decided to relocate to Lakeway,Texas to be closer to family. She lived a full life in Lakeway, with of course, bridge card playing being a central part of her life, as well as church activities and shopping. She remained closely connected to her Memphis friends until the end.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at the Lakeway Church Chapel.
Gravesite Memorial is set for 4 p.m. Saturday June 2 at Fairview Cemetery Chapel in Memphis.
Arrangements are by Weed Corley Fish Funeral Homes, 512-263-1511.
