Bettie Ruth Cox

Bettie Ruth Cox (née Crawford), born June 8, 1941, in Brownwood, Texas, passed in peace, Dec. 5, 2022, after a short illness in Westminster, Colo., with her daughter, Amy Kinsey Sperry, and son, Alan Cox, by her side. She is also survived by her brother, Robert Crawford; sister-in-law, Alene Crawford, both of Newton, KS; granddaughters, Alexandra Kinsey of Denver, Colo., and Genevieve Cox of Austin; nephew, Brian Crawford of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and nieces Kate Wolf of Burns, Kansas, and Phyllis Ray of Weaverville, N.C. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ira and Elda Crawford, and her husband of 57 years, Valcee Cox.

Bettie lived a life of devotion and determination, never suffering a moment of self-doubt. Growing up on a small farm in Brown County, she learned to tend to all God's creatures, both big and small, an experience that developed into a lifelong passion for service. Professionally, Bettie had been a math teacher in Odessa, Richardson, Seagraves, and Big Spring, having taught at Goliad Middle School for 22 years from 1977 until retirement in 1999. During that time, she also worked tirelessly for Big Spring's pet population by helping the community's humane society survive its early years. Needless to say, she was also an adoring, and always supportive, wife and mother.

After retirement, Bettie and her husband, Valcee, traveled extensively throughout the United States, having traveled to every state but Hawaii, mostly by RV, as well as abroad, visiting several countries including Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Egypt, England, Germany, Poland, Russia, and France. Her final international excursion was with her husband to Paris, along with her children and grandchildren, to celebrate her and Valcee's 50th wedding anniversary.

Bettie was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Big Spring Chapter No. 67, and the Social Order of the Beauceant, Austin Assembly No. 125. She was also an avid competitor, regularly battling wits with friends and family in spirited games of dominoes and joker.

Finally, Bettie was unwavering in her faith as a lifelong Christian and had been a member of the First Baptist Church in Big Spring for 45 years. Although unable to attend in-person service during her final months, she remained resolute in not missing an online gathering of the faithful, singing the gospel along with the Big Spring assembly from her bedside in Colorado.

Funeral services for Ms. Cox will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 12, at the First Baptist Church Chapel. Interment will follow at Mount Olive Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Nalley-pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalleypickle & Welch Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npwech.com