Betty Jean Shaddix

Betty Jean Dunaway Shaddix, 85, passed away Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Tyler, TX, surrounded by her loving husband, children, and grandchildren. She was born August 20, 1939, in Anniston, AL to Thomas Luther and Ruby Acker Dunaway. Betty graduated from Alexandria High School in Alexandria, AL in 1957, and married her high school sweetheart, Julian Shaddix, four days later. In May of 2025, they celebrated 68 years of marriage.
Betty lived a life dedicated to loving and serving the Lord, and she overflowed with sacrificial love and care for her family and friends. Her name, Betty, is derived from the Hebrew name Elizabeth, meaning quiet and gentle, sincere, and trustworthy, always placing others before herself, and well-liked amongst friends. No better name could have been given her, as she exemplified these qualities and more. Betty frequently enjoyed a hot cup of tea in a china teacup from her vast collection, and her love of dessert was unmatched; often she would skip a meal and have dessert instead. Though not always a baseball fan, after following her youngest grandson's baseball career, she began watching the Texas Rangers and became a diehard fan. Most recently, Betty was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Whitehouse, TX, and prior to that she served in many capacities for the various churches she attended over the years.
Although she excelled in various bookkeeping positions over the years, Betty's true calling was that of being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. It was obvious that her greatest joy came from loving, spending time with, teaching, and taking care of Julian, her three children, eight grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. Betty was truly a Proverbs 31 woman, full of love, faith, and wisdom, prayerful, selfless, and hardworking. This is the legacy she leaves behind.
Betty was preceded in death by her mother, Ruby Acker, her father, Thomas Dunaway, her sister, Barbara Baker, and her son, Jim Shaddix. She is survived by her loving family including husband Julian Shaddix, son Tom Shaddix and daughter-in-law Cindy, daughter Joy Youngblood and son-in-law Jay, half-sister Joy Peppers, and daughter-in-law Debra Shaddix; grandchildren: Clint, Shane, Ross, and Gavin Shaddix; Jordan Carreon; Dallys Ruschmyer; Austin Blythe; Jaylyn Pace; and great-grandchildren: Jackson, Avery, Ezra, Jade, Mercy, Payton, Judson, and baby Shaddix; Titus, Boston, Xander, Mazlow, Remi Grace, and Crosby Ruschmyer; Addison, Kennedy, and Everett Pace; Grayson Vasquez; Savannah Carreon; and Griffin and Noah Blythe.
Services for Betty Shaddix will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. Visitation is scheduled from 9:00-10:00 am, with the service beginning at 10:00 am. Rev. Charles Hill, Rev. Donnie Barron, and Rev. Shane Shaddix will be officiating. A private burial will follow at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Clint, Ross, and Gavin Shaddix; Austin Blythe; Phillip Ruschmyer; Brian Pace; and Raul Carreon.
If desired, memorials may be made to "Together for Texas" to assist The Salvation Army's ongoing relief efforts for those affected by the devastating Texas floods. Simply go to togetherfortexas.com to donate.