Della Beatrice 'Bea' Morris Baty, 78, drifted peacefully away Thursday afternoon after a brief illness. She was born November 9, 1927, in San Angelo, Texas, and was raised in Hondo, New Mexico. She came to Denton in 1945 to attend Texas Woman's University. She married Clarence Baty in April 1948. She retired from the wholesale magazine business in 1997 after 47 years, but could only stay retired three weeks. She has happily worked for Bobby Gentry's Muffler Shop on South Locust since Sept. 1997 until the last day of June this year.

She is survived by her daughter Sharon Richert and grandson Jacob Richert, both of Lewisville, an uncle in San Angelo, an aunt in El Paso, and several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, her mother Mable Beatrice Morris, stepfather Jack Morris, and stepmother Lavita 'Susie' Morris.

Funeral service will be held Monday, August 7, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home, 705 N. Locust, Denton, TX. with Rev. Michael J. Sitz officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery in Denton. Family will be at the funeral home to receive friends and family on Sunday, August 6, from 3 to 5 p.m.