Betty Lou Gilliam Stephenson Carter

Betty Lou Gilliam Stephenson Carter

February 21, 1930 - March 9, 2017

Betty Carter, 87, went to be with her Lord and Savior peacefully during her sleep Wednesday night, March 9, 2017. Betty was born in the Buffalo community on February 21st to Grady James and Odessa Horton Gilliam. She attended the Buffalo School until her senior year when she attended Bangs High School and graduated in 1948. After high school she was employed with Perry Brothers and then Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for several years. She met James Stephenson of the Leaday community, and they were married in June of 1954. They lived near Leaday where James farmed and ranched and later they owned the Leaday store where Betty helped daily, and James was the Leaday Postmaster. When Lake Ivie was built, James retired and they moved to Coleman. James passed away with Leukemia on February 6, 1992. Later Betty married Bill Carter of Coleman, whom she had dated in high school. He preceded her in death on January 8, 2006. Betty was a member of the Northside Baptist Church of Santa Anna and attended each Sunday until she became ill. She was very active, going to the Senior Center for meals and enjoyed being with people.

Graveside services for Betty will be Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Leaday Cemetery Pavilion with visitation preceding the burial at Stevens Funeral Home in Coleman from 1:00 to 2:00. Marvin Hale of the Northside Baptist Church of Santa Anna will be in charge of the graveside service.

Betty is survived by one brother, James Elgean Gilliam of Abilene and one sister, Sandra Gilliam Kring of Lubbock, two nephews, Dale Gilliam of Fort Worth and Kelly Kring and his wife, Melanie and their son, Thatcher, of Anna, Texas, and one grandnephew, Justin Gilliam and his wife and 3 children of Michigan. She is also survived by Bill Carter's daughter and husband, Cathy and Marvin Hale of Coleman and their two children and three grandchildren. Betty considered Cathy and Marvin as her children because they were always available to help her and took care of her needs. She spent many Christmases and special days in their home and loved them like family. She is survived by one sister-in-law, Dorothy Stephenson, of Coleman. She had many friends, cousins and one surviving aunt, Lena Bea Smith of San Angelo. She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, and a nephew, James Elgean Gilliam, Jr.

Memorials may be made to the Northside Baptist Church, Post Office Box 415, Santa Anna, TX, 76878 or to a favorite charity.

Please leave condolences for the family at www.livingmemorials.com.