Obituary for BETTY HAYES
Betty Hayes, age 87, passed away on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at Harris Methodist Hospital in Ft. Worth, Texas.
She was born October 17, 1933, in the Shiloh Community in Erath County, Texas, to Emmett Scott and Lula Loretta (Huckabee) Bradley. Betty graduated from Dublin High School in 1950 and that fall she was chosen as the Dublin Rodeo Queen which would begin one of the greatest adventures of her life. She would be a “Sponsor Girl” for the World Championship Rodeo in New York City and Boston. The girls were featured in advertisements, made publicity appearances for the rodeo and participated in exhibition barrel racing during the rodeo performances.
On January 16, 1954, she was united in marriage to Russell Moore Hayes at the Shiloh Church. They raised two children, Scotty and Sandy, and were involved in the community through church and school activities. He preceded her in death on March 9, 1994. Betty served as PTA secretary, treasurer and president over the years and was the first woman elected to the Gustine ISD School Board. She was a loving wife and mother, and the best Grandma ever! She worked for the ASCS office, kept books for Hathcock’s Furniture and spent 25 years at Radio Station KCOM where she became the office manager. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Gustine, where she was a member of the choir, church treasurer, and often played the piano for services. Betty was also a member of the United Methodist Women. She was honored by the Dublin Rodeo Heritage Museum & Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work with the rodeo in October of 2016.
Betty was a huge sports fan and faithfully cheered for her Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks, often listening to one on the radio while watching another on TV. She loved to travel and was always up for a new adventure. She loved southern gospel music, especially the Gaithers, and would go to great lengths to see them in concert. She also had many treasured memories of trips around the country with family and friends including many with her sister Peggy and others with her dear friend Fran Moore.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell; parents, Scott and Lou Bradley; brothers, Emmett Bradley, Bill Bradley, and Jerry Bradley; sisters, Dortha Jurney and Peggy Jurney; one nephew, Don Jurney; one niece, Janet Del Bosque; and one great niece, Megan Horry.
Betty is survived by her son, Scotty Hayes and wife, Pam of Gustine; daughter, Sandy Hitt and husband Roy of Arlington; granddaughters, Jessi Hitt of Waco and Rachel Hitt of Arlington; brother, Dean Bradley and wife, Ruthie of Dublin; and sisters-in-laws, Bobbie Bradley and Beverly Bradley, both of Dublin. She also leaves behind many cousins, three generations of nieces and nephews and many dear friends to cherish her memory.
Pallbearers are Mike Jurney, Frank Keith, Randy Denning, Tommy McGinnis, Joe McKee and Lewis Williams. Honorary pallbearers: Wade Collins, Mark Clark, David Daniel, Tommy Elliott, Shawn Grant, Bill Schooler and David Willingham.
If desired, memorials may be made to Gustine Methodist Church P.O. Box 102 Gustine, Texas 76455.
She was born October 17, 1933, in the Shiloh Community in Erath County, Texas, to Emmett Scott and Lula Loretta (Huckabee) Bradley. Betty graduated from Dublin High School in 1950 and that fall she was chosen as the Dublin Rodeo Queen which would begin one of the greatest adventures of her life. She would be a “Sponsor Girl” for the World Championship Rodeo in New York City and Boston. The girls were featured in advertisements, made publicity appearances for the rodeo and participated in exhibition barrel racing during the rodeo performances.
On January 16, 1954, she was united in marriage to Russell Moore Hayes at the Shiloh Church. They raised two children, Scotty and Sandy, and were involved in the community through church and school activities. He preceded her in death on March 9, 1994. Betty served as PTA secretary, treasurer and president over the years and was the first woman elected to the Gustine ISD School Board. She was a loving wife and mother, and the best Grandma ever! She worked for the ASCS office, kept books for Hathcock’s Furniture and spent 25 years at Radio Station KCOM where she became the office manager. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Gustine, where she was a member of the choir, church treasurer, and often played the piano for services. Betty was also a member of the United Methodist Women. She was honored by the Dublin Rodeo Heritage Museum & Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work with the rodeo in October of 2016.
Betty was a huge sports fan and faithfully cheered for her Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks, often listening to one on the radio while watching another on TV. She loved to travel and was always up for a new adventure. She loved southern gospel music, especially the Gaithers, and would go to great lengths to see them in concert. She also had many treasured memories of trips around the country with family and friends including many with her sister Peggy and others with her dear friend Fran Moore.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell; parents, Scott and Lou Bradley; brothers, Emmett Bradley, Bill Bradley, and Jerry Bradley; sisters, Dortha Jurney and Peggy Jurney; one nephew, Don Jurney; one niece, Janet Del Bosque; and one great niece, Megan Horry.
Betty is survived by her son, Scotty Hayes and wife, Pam of Gustine; daughter, Sandy Hitt and husband Roy of Arlington; granddaughters, Jessi Hitt of Waco and Rachel Hitt of Arlington; brother, Dean Bradley and wife, Ruthie of Dublin; and sisters-in-laws, Bobbie Bradley and Beverly Bradley, both of Dublin. She also leaves behind many cousins, three generations of nieces and nephews and many dear friends to cherish her memory.
Pallbearers are Mike Jurney, Frank Keith, Randy Denning, Tommy McGinnis, Joe McKee and Lewis Williams. Honorary pallbearers: Wade Collins, Mark Clark, David Daniel, Tommy Elliott, Shawn Grant, Bill Schooler and David Willingham.
If desired, memorials may be made to Gustine Methodist Church P.O. Box 102 Gustine, Texas 76455.