Betty Elliott

Betty Lucy Rice Elliott, 88, of Dayton, passed away Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at Methodist Memorial Hospital’s Hospice Unit in Baytown, Texas.

Ms. Elliott was a long time resident of Dayton. She and the late Dr. Shelby M. Elliott moved to Dayton in 1952 to set up his chiropractic practice. Betty was a native of Tennessee and grew up in Paducah, Kentucky where she graduated from Paducah Tilghman High School and Draughn’s Business College. She married Dr. Elliott in 1947. They had four children.

In addition to her business college degree, she received her Bachelor of Science in Teaching and Learning from the University of Houston and her Masters Degree from Sam Houston State University. After receiving her teaching certification, she was an educator in the Liberty Independent School District from 1972 to 1976, Dayton Independent School District from 1976 to 1990, and in the Windham School District at the L.V. Hightower Prison Unit near Dayton prior to retirement. All this after raising her family.

During her 64 years in Dayton, she also taught piano, was an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed quilting and ballroom dancing. She was also past president of the Texas Chiropractic Association Auxiliary. Her real passion became teaching Sunday school at the First Baptist Church in Dayton. In fact she taught her seniors Sunday school class as recent at Sunday, October 16th. In addition, over the years, she has researched, cataloged and holds many, many binders of scriptures underlying all the Sunday school lessons over her many years in the church. She was a true Christian who loved and supported her church family.

Betty is survived by three sons: Dr. Steve Miller Elliott and wife Laurie of Liberty, Terry Mark Elliott and wife Wannette (Net) of Houston, and Vance Rice Elliott and wife Heather of Columbus: nine grandchildren, Michael Vinson Elliott, Richard Miller Elliott, Dr. Joshua Byron Elliott, Rebecca Diane James, Stacey Marie Elliott, Blake Allen Elliott, Travis Osborne and wife Mary, Rhonda Kunzler and husband Rick, Kenny Rogers and wife Terri; and twelve great grandchildren, Andrew Lee Elliott, Caleb Dean Elliott, Brycelynn Dawn James, Blake Jordan James, Bridgette Susan James, Blain Elliott James, Mitchell Kunzler and wife Lindsay, Matthew Kunzler and wife Sarah, Patrick Kunzler, Rachelle Kunzler, Elyse Kunzler, Michael Norris and wife Meghan and one great great grandchild, Kobe Kunzler.

She is also survived by nieces and nephews; Linda Bucy and husband Edward, Brenda Smith and husband Tony, Frank Rankin and wife Vickie of Tennessee; Laura Thacker, Linda Leary, Jack Glenn Smith, Norma Jill Hobson, Marie Louise Elliott, Shirly Elliott Nevin, Nancy Ruth O’Grady, Allan Joseph Elliott, Mark A. Elliott, Rene’ Lemer, and Rick A. Elliott.

Betty was preceded in death by her daughter Debra Diane. Also by her parents, Rufus and Nellie Rice, and her sister Jenny Rice Rankin of Tennessee, and one great grandson, Cody Norris who was killed in service in Afghanistan.

Visitation for family and friends is scheduled from 5pm to 8pm, Saturday, October 29, 2016 at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Dayton on Sunday, October 30, 2016 at 3pm. Burial will follow in Magnolia Park Cemetery in Dayton.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to First Baptist Church of Dayton
Food Pantry, 202 E. Houston St., Dayton, TX 77535