Betty LaNell (Gassiot) Brown

Betty LaNell Gassiot Brown, age 83, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 8, 2019.   She was born on July 10, 1936 in Coleman County to Leo and Allene Gassiot.

The family will gather at the funeral home at 12:00 noon on Thursday, September 12.   Funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m. in Stevens Funeral Chapel with Pastor Kevin Morton officiating. There will be a private family burial at the Valera Cemetery, Valera, TX.  Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

Betty grew up in Valera, Texas and as a teenager gave her life to the Lord. She was baptized along with her sister Dokie, on Home Creek, in the swimming hole by the old iron bridge near her home. She attended Valera schools until 1949 and then transitioned to Centennial High School where she enjoyed playing basketball for the Bulldogs until graduating. Betty and her future husband, Weldon, started dating while at Centennial together and continued to date after Weldon joined the U.S. Army in 1953. Betty married Weldon Brown on May 22, 1955 after Weldon had returned from serving in the Korean War. They were married in a unique double wedding with her best friend, Tommie Jean James and his best friend/cousin Dewayne (Bugs) Nixon, followed by a honeymoon in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Betty and Weldon then moved to Coleman in 1955 and have been married for over 64 years. She supported Weldon as a loving wife and supported her children as a loving mother. She was an avid supporter of her grandchildren’s activities, served as a Sunday School Teacher at Valera Methodist Church, was a member of the Valera Cemetery Association, and continuously worked to keep Centennial school reunions occurring. Betty loved vacationing with her family in Branson, Missouri where seeing the shows and listening to the sounds of a gospel quartet made her heart happy.

From worship on Sunday mornings to the ministering of her family, Betty is a mighty woman of God, a God fearing and God loving woman. From her hugs and kisses to her love and well wishes, she will be greatly missed by many. But take heart! She is now in the presence of the greatest company the world will ever know. Just envisioning the joy she has now, starting with the very second she meets Jesus face-to-face, now at the feet of God Almighty, setting the course for our mournful hearts to be at peace. The Name above all names will be lifted high, praised, and glorified; we will sing for joy while our hearts are heavy.

“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” Romans 5:12 NLT “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NLT “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” 2 Timothy 4:7 NLT “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 NLT

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Allene Gassiot and her brother, Leo Maurice Gassiot. She is survived by her husband: Weldon Brown, children: Terry and his wife Renee’ of Coleman, Texas and Todd and his wife Alair of Sunrise Beach, Texas, grandchildren: Dustin and his wife Tara, Shaina and her husband Brock Kleman, Erin, Paige and Chad, great grandchildren: Rilyn, Bentley, Huxley, Symbree, Landree and Camree, sister: Dokie Bledsoe, sister-in-law: Glenda Gassiot, brother-in-law and sister-in-law: Lynn and Sandy Brown, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A special thanks to Melinda Salas for the special and nurturing care she has provided to Betty and Weldon over the past several years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Betty’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association (http://www.alz.org) and to the Valera Cemetery Association in care of Vicki Cardinas at 122 E. 24th St, Coleman, Texas 76834.

Please leave condolences, kind thoughts and memories for the family at www.livingmemorials.com.