Betty Alford Degan, 81, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2008 after a brief battle with pneumonia.  She was born in Shreveport , Louisiana, on January 25, 1927, the daughter of Helen Newman Alford and Frank S. Alford who preceded her in death.

Having lost her father at age 6 and her mother at age 11, she was raised in Denton, Texas by her aunt Anna Alford.  Betty was a graduate of North Texas State University in Denton, Texas holding a degree in Foods and Nutrition.  After graduation from North Texas, she worked as a dietitian at a campus dormitory.  Betty married Daniel Carl Degan, Jr. in July 1949 and soon thereafter they moved to Lewisville, Texas.  They enjoyed 56 happy years together until Carl's death in July 2005.

Betty had a love of art and theater.  She was an avid bird watcher and loved to travel and photograph wildlife.  Betty was a talented hand weaver and delighted her family and friends each year with hand-woven Christmas cards.

Betty was a quiet, elegant, and caring woman who loved her family dearly and always put them first.  She volunteered her time extensively for many organizations including the PTA, the Denton Weaver's Guild, the March of Dimes and the American Red Cross.  She volunteered for the American Cancer Society, driving cancer patients to and from their doctor's appointments and treatments.

She is survived by her daughter Karen Hammond and son-in-law George Hammond, son Daniel Carl Degan, III and daughter-in-law Cheryl Degan, grandsons Jason Hammond and Alex Degan, granddaughter Whitney Degan, and granddaughter-in-law Stacy Hammond, and great-grandson Chase Hammond.

Funeral Services will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at the Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home, 148 W. Church St., Lewisville, TX, 75057.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North Texas Exes Alumni Association, P.O. Box 311250, Denton. TX, 76203. For online condolences please go to www.mulkeymason.com.