Bettye Laverne Thomas

Bettye Laverne Vickers Thomas, 92, of Hewitt passed away Monday, May 22, 2023 at her residence. Funeral services will be Friday, May 26 at 1:00 pm in the chapel of Waco Memorial Funeral Home, Kip Osborne will officiate. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation is Thursday, May 25 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the funeral home.

Bettye Laverne Vickers Thomas was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on August 29, 1930 to Lillie Ollie Cole and Carl Earl Vickers. She and her mother moved to Waco when she was 13 years old. Bettye attended Waco High School and graduated in 1947. That is also where she met her future husband during summer school. When he came back from his military service, the school had added a grade, and he was there to finish his education. Bettye and William Henry Thomas were married in 1948 after a year of dating. Bettye also attended 4 C College. She then went to work at Waco Saving, Central Texas Savings and at a couple of local title companies. Bettye worked until she was 72 years of age. She had two children, Donna Kay., born in 1951 and William Allen, born in 1955.

Bettye was preceded in death by her mother, Lillie Ollie Shoaf; father, Carl Earl Vickers; step-father, R.L. Shoaf; her brothers, Carl Earl Vickers and Jm Lee Vickers; husband, William Henry Thomas, Jr.; and her son, William Allen Thomas.

She is survived by her daughter, Donna Kay Gutierrez and her plus one, Daniel Blue; three grandchildren, who were the main joy in her life for years, Becky Kay Fikes, Aimee Melissa Munn and husband, Chip, and John Thomas Fikes; great grandson and pride and joy, Harry Clark Munn III and bonus great granddaughter, Andrea; and what was an wonderful surprise she recently learned about, a great-great grandbaby who is on the way. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Wesley Woods and to Michelle and Olivia with Amedisys Hospice for the care and love given to Bettye.

Serving as pallbearers are Chip Munn, Clark Munn, John Fikes, Melvin Breedlove, Lonnie Thomas, and William York.