Betty Lavene Simmons Slinker (January 22, 1935 - January 15, 2021) proudly wishes to announce, she has permanently relocated to her new address, One Golden Street, New Jerusalem. There is a marker at Valley View Cemetery commemorating her days here, but she wants everyone to know;

"I am not actually there, but you're welcome anyway to come visit my marker!"

During her first 85 years, Betty was a devoted daughter of Texas constantly moving as she supported her soldier husband Raymond Lee Slinker serving in the US Army. Betty and Ray managed to dutifully love and care for one another all the while being stationed in over nine military installations including Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Eustis, Virginia; as well as postings at Stuttgart-Würzburg and Mainz, Germany. Betty and Ray together made it through the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Cold War all the while longing to get back home to the bluebonnets of Texas and their dear Denton County families. Betty is finished moving now and has many new adventures unfolding as this is being reported.

Betty met Ray while both attended Denton High School. She walked up Hickory Street from where her father, Pres Simmons, worked as a tractor mechanic at Industrial and Mulberry, past First State Bank, over the county courthouse grounds, all the way up Congress Street, skipping up the school steps and then backtracking her footsteps in the afternoon to meet her Dad as they headed home to the farm on Copper Canyon Road near Argyle. She dearly loved the Old Denton Courthouse and Square. In more recent years, she loved dining outside at Cartwright's with son John and daughter-in-law Cindy and meeting all her new friends, formerly strangers just a few minutes before.

Betty was a member at First Baptist Church Denton and hosted many "Ladies Game Day" at her home with church friends. Most recently, Betty lived three years as a resident of Good Samaritan Village on Hinkle, playing bingo, and collecting dozens of silk scarfs from the Elvis impersonator thrown to her while performing. She had many, many friends there, especially the marvelously dedicated staff.

Betty wishes to share the following news;

"My new home is even better than I always hoped for. The builder perfectly understood what I wanted, and needed, without my even asking. He is a real sweetheart, and very handsome too. I am completely smitten and I just giggle like a young schoolgirl each time we talk!" My neighbors are absolutely wonderful too, we love to visit and know everything about each other, no one gossips or judges, there are no locks on any doors or windows because we don't have any crime, the air is perfect with no allergies or bad weather ever. "There are no mosquitos, spiders, snakes, mice, chiggers, grass burrs, or johnsongrass to deal with anymore...it's heavenly. It's simply the most fantastic place ever!"

Betty continued, "I am not just sitting around in a rocking chair either. I have a new job, both challenging and very rewarding. The management team is dynamic and asks me to create new things right beside them. Everything here is always new, it's continually changing yet somehow is also the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. They are the most imaginative, and compassionate beings ever and know exactly how to draw out enormous potential and value in everyone that works here. It actually doesn't feel like a job at all, but a true labor of love."

Betty married Raymond Slinker on a hot August day in 1953, together embarking on many years of adventures, exploring new cities and countries, moving all over this Earth while serving in the United States Army. After 21 years serving, they retired and moved back to Denton County. Upon driving over the Red River, Ray and Betty stopped the car, got out and kissed the Texas soil, and thanked God for delivering Ray out of the jungles of Vietnam and Betty back home to her beloved Denton County, they both vowed to always remain a faithful son and daughter of The Great State of Texas, which they did!

Ray successfully relocated out-of-state one last time on August 10, 2010, also moving to New Jerusalem, now serving in the Lord's Army there. Betty's first son, Stephen Ray Slinker, preceded her and passed January 7, 2012.

Betty retired as an administrative assistant for the Northwest ISD. She raised her family of four (4) "all above-average intelligence" children on Turner and Main in Roanoke, Texas before moving to Denton in 1985.

Betty is 100% confident this is her last move. Her new home is a mansion with plenty of room for all the ladies bridge and chicken foot parties she is planning to host, and plenty of rooms for anyone who wants to visit to stay over. Betty is particularly proud to have made this move without packing any dishes; purging closets of rarely used clothing; calling and transferring magazine subscriptions, utilities, and other mail forwarding tasks; as well as finding new doctors and dentists, something she became quite good at as an Army wife.

"You won't believe this, most people don't, but my new home was completely paid for in advance for me by my Builder. It was all a gift and I just had to accept it and it's all mine. No taxes. No maintenance. No secrets. No hidden gotchas. Best of all no television or Hollywood because, with all my new friends and family visiting and my new job here, I am always enthralled and entertained. It's amazing! And one more thing, there are no clocks anywhere."

Betty has completely ceased dieting, now sporting a perfectly proportioned, slim, athletic figure with long luxurious hair, twinkling eyes, a dazzling smile, and an infectious carefree laugh.

" I cook effortlessly and everything is grown right here in our gardens, so it tastes amazing. All my friends share meals together and no one ever gains even an ounce. You may not recognize me at first, once you hear my voice, you'll know it's me."

Betty wishes all her friends and family to know she doesn't have a worry in this world.

"There are no elections here, no politics ever. I never have to open all those endless campaign contribution requests sent to me."

Upon further reflection, she added, "You know, I just realized, I don't even have a mailbox!"

Betty dearly loved her many puppies — Frankie, Scampi to some and Scamper to others, Bunny, Muffin, Daisy, and her giant Siamese cat, Tiger (who loved to bring her rabbits) — as well as watching all the brilliant red Cardinals from her kitchen window. Her playful squirrels amazed her with their antics and abilities to steal bird seed and tease Ralph's puppy Rusty. While she was temporarily out of the pet business while a guest at the wonderful Good Samaritan Village in Denton, she has now welcomed three new pets into her palatial new home; an enormous talking lion named Aslan, a gentle lamb named Adoni, and her favorite paint pony named Scout from her childhood.

Betty shared that, "..the first morning here, I heard a familiar neighing, looked up and there Scout was staring back at me! I am delighted to be reunited and we ride together anywhere and everywhere we want, we never tire, and best of all, He talks! He is as dear a friend here as when I was a teenager in Texas."

Betty wishes to invite each of her surviving family members to quickly join her, and to get on the waiting list as soon as possible because, "you just never know when your next move is!"

" It's free, so why wait! Sometimes you only have one day to secure your place, sometimes a few years, but the time really flies by so don't be late accepting this gift because you don't want to miss out."

Betty asks all of her surviving immediate family from California, "...gleefully remember me every time you share my famous Hungarian goulash, and sprinkle plenty of your grandmother's love on it with each bite!" She is survived by her second son, Scott, and her lovely daughter-in-law Karen Slinker, whom Betty adores and always enjoys visiting with, as well as five (5) grandchildren,  Madison Slinker (San Francisco), Cole Slinker (San Francisco), Tally Slinker (Somerset), Shofner Slinker (San Jose), and Dolly Slinker (San Francisco).

Betty asks all of her surviving immediate family from Fort Worth, "...please remember to bring my coral lipstick" to her new home when they come to visit too.  She is survived by her third son, John, and his lovely bride Cindy Slinker, whom Betty adores and is grateful for beyond words, "...that Cindy... I just love her so much."

Betty asks all of her surviving immediate family from Plano, "...check in frequently too as I love to hear from each of you and look forward to lovingly squeezing all of your hands again and again." She is survived by her very precious and cherished only daughter Jennifer Kepke, whom she adores, and two (2) grandchildren Warren and Olympia.

Betty asks her surviving grandson Stewart of Cook County to "...be at peace among all men and to know you are deeply loved and cherished, I long to see you here too." Betty is also survived by two (2) great-grandchildren Amelia and Anthony also of Cook County.

Betty asks her surviving younger brother Marshall Wayne Simmons also of Denton, Texas to know, "Wayne you are my best friend, please bring the dominos and come see all things made new again."

Betty wishes to close this report by asking her adopted dutiful Apache son "Chief" Ralph Behrend, also of Denton, "....Ralph, always remain hopeful and know I am eternally grateful you came to live with me. Thank you for your many, many kindnesses, dedication, protection, friendship, and loyalty all these years. I'll be watching for you everyday to walk through my door, and please let Rusty know there are plenty of squirrels here to chase too!"

Finally, this reporter (with a lump in his throat) happily attests Betty is indeed living large as she gently swings her tanned legs across her paint pony, Scout, seated high in her new saddle, clicking her tongue she starts a giddy-up, a-galloping over bluebonnet covered hillsides, wind gently blowing through her long flowing hair, cowgirl hat flapping on a perfectly warm day. Rumor has it, Betty is hurriedly on her way to join in a joyful sing-a-long with her best beau Ray, mom Alberta, dad Pres, grandparents Mommie and Poppie, many uncles and aunts, cousins and girlfriends. Songs to be led by her new pal...the real Elvis;

"...he is such a nice boy."

Betty finally has the front row seat she always dreamed for. Best of all, it's forever.

Well done, good and faithful servant!

To be sensitive to any Covid concerns, the family has arranged for private viewings held on a come and go basis Sunday, January 17 from 10 AM to 4 PM at Mulkey-Bowles Funeral Home, 705 N. Locust, Denton Texas. Family will be present from 3 to 4 PM.

Graveside Services will be held Monday, January 18, 11 AM at Valley View Cemetery.