Mary Elizabeth "Bettye" Young, a long-time resident of Denton, passed away Monday, December 28, 2009, at a Denton hospital after a short illness. She was 96 years of age.
Bettye was born September 4, 1913, in Denton to Alex E. and Lillie D. (Reynolds) Mullen. She grew up and went to school in Little Elm, Texas, where she became a star basketball player for her high school team. She loved riding horses, bareback, and actually rode her horse to school every day. She also loved playing 42 when friends and family got together.
She moved to Denton in 1944 and in 1946 began working for Russell-Newman Manufacturing Company. About 17 years later she started working for M & B Manufacturing Company. She became a member of the First Baptist Church of Denton in 1957 and worked in the children's day care center for a period of time.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 4, 2010, at Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home, Jack Schmitz and Son, 705 North Locust Street, Denton, 940-382-6622. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. The family will be at the funeral home for visitation on Sunday, January 3, 2010, from 2p.m. until 4p.m.
Officiating at the service will be Roland Small, Cliff Feeler, and Jimmy Christian. Pallbearers will be Bill Brady, Terrell King, Gunter Knight, Jerry Morgan, Fritz Schwalm, and Charles Ray Smith.
Bettye was preceded in death by daughters, Shada Ann Gerganess and Delora Rhea Hutcheson; sisters, Ruth Arthur and Gladys Megginson; and brother, James Rose.
She is survived by her children, Norman Puckett of Denton, Ira Puckett of Rowlett, Charlotte McFarlin and husband Robert of Arlington; 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Alma Jean Christian, of Krum, and Emma Louise and husband Noel Duke, of St. Louis, MO many nieces, nephews and friends.
Bettye was a very caring, loving Mother and will be especially missed by her children. Actually, she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.