Bettye Burns

Bettye Burns, age 89 of Gatesville, passed away on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

Visitation with the family will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Scott’s Funeral Home, followed by graveside services at 3:00 p.m. at Pearl Cemetery, with Rev. Jimmy Skiles officiating. 

Bettye Lou Burns was born on May 5, 1933 in Tulia, Texas to the late Ansel and Louise Kinder.  She graduated from Tulia High School in 1950 and soon after, married Don Sandeson.  Together, they had three children, Dawn, Paul and Janet.  In 1977, she married Robert (Bob) Burns. They moved to the Pearl community, where they raised horses, cows, emus, sheep, and chickens.  Bettye worked as a teacher’s aide at Gatesville High School for many years. Bob preceded her in death in April of 2003 and she moved to a small farm just outside of Gatesville.  She continued to raise animals and added goldfish, dogs and a herd of cats and was always an animal lover at heart.  She enjoyed working in her yard and certainly had a green thumb.  Her flowers bloomed from early spring into late fall.  She also enjoyed birds and always had hummingbird feeders in her trees.  She attended Trinity Baptist church, where she was a member for many years.

She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Jacob David Marcum and a great grandson, Kindle Perkins. 

Bettye is survived by her children, Dawn Lanham and husband, James of Gatesville, Paul Nelson Sanderson of Tulia, Janet Marcum and husband, Joe of Canyon; sister, Mary Lea Hefner of San Marcos; five grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Trinity Baptist Church, 1506 W. Main Street, Gatesville, TX 76528.