Margaret Elizabeth "Betty" WILSON

WILSON, Margaret Elizabeth "Betty"
Her life was an adventure full of love and joy because she made it so; her friends, family and loved ones were the beneficiaries. Whether it was a sing along in the car on the way to the First Methodist Church in Dallas with her parents and brother, sewing her own dresses and her sons' shirts, presiding over the high school booster club for nine years, organizing Southside (Houston) Neighborhood events or serving up her delicious homemade ice cream, she did it all with great enthusiasm. Of course, she was the originator of the "Granny Kick" which delighted her grandchildren but when demonstrated in their separate schools often drew some degree of discipline. Life was always warm and fuzzy when you were in her presence.

An accomplished china painting artist she painted a complete set of china for her three sons and separate pieces for her grandchildren following in the footsteps of her artistic mother Clara.

With movie star good looks she married Robert "Bobby" Wilson of SMU football fame and they were blessed with three sons, Robert and wife Ann, David and wife Victoria and Layton and wife Ann; seven grandchildren, Laura, Kathy, Andy, Holly, Layton, Marshall and Ross; and four great-grandchildren, Wilson, Bailey, Hayes and Truett.

Her children and grandchildren were the focus of her life and she and Robert moved regularly to be close to them, always being available for babysitting duties to the thrill of all. Their home was a wonderland of books, games, pets and toys for their entertainment and joy.

When Robert's job took them to Alaska for three years it was an adventure for Betty. They travelled to all parts of Alaska, and Betty collected native Alaskan artifacts made from ivory, skin and bone by the different native tribes. Yet her most favorite place may have been the beach house on Port Bolivar where she spent many hours beachcombing with her lifelong friend Margaret Cook and cooking shrimp, oysters and crab and making her famous red sauce for all comers.

If asked, Betty would have said she lived a fairy tale life. She was born in the same house as her mother Clara on Thomas Avenue in Dallas, Texas where they milked the family cow daily. Her family moved to University Park where she attended Highland Park schools and SMU where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and the Sweetheart of the Mustang Band.

Betty was born in 1916 to Clara Ella Julian Bailey and Layton Wever Bailey. Her father was a pillar in the First Methodist Church and was the Business Manager and Secretary to the Board at SMU for over 35 years. Betty inherited her sense of humor from her father and brother who were both President of the Bonehead Club of Dallas, a club made up of prominent businessmen whose mission it was "to learn more and more about less and less until you knew absolutely nothing at all". Her mother Clara, also a skilled artist and a kind and gentle woman, taught her the homemaking skills of the time; cooking, sewing, needlepointing, reading and gaining an appreciation for music. Betty adored her big brother Layton Jr. who looked after her on her childhood adventures; he was a big band leader, a marine officer and a Bronze Star recipient who fought in the Pacific during WWII. They shared their fondness for each other through wonderful hand written letters during the war, she to take his mind off his horrific surroundings and he to assure her that everything was OK.

A final thought from an unknown author: As long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here. Death ends a life, not a relationship.

Betty's life will be celebrated with a future memorial gathering of family and friends.

Obituary and memorial guestbook available online at www.wcfish.com