Bettye F. Austin

Bettye Austin, 82, Lawton, OK

Funeral Service at Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home Chapel, Walters, OK, Monday, March 7 at 2:00 p.m. with burial in the Walters Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Hart-Wyatt from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

Bettye Frances Austin was born November 28, 1933 in Walters, OK to Dewey W. Smith and Hazel Vivian (Maryfield) Phillips. She passed away March 2, 2016 in Joplin, Mo.

After graduating from Walters High School, Bettye attended Oklahoma State University for three years before marrying and starting a family. She married Robert E. Austin and moved to Miami, OK. They subsequently had two daughters, Deborah and Sonya. While in Miami, Bettye was very involved in civic organizations including the Jaycees/Janes Foundation and The Mother’s Club.

In the 1970’s Bettye relocated to Lawton, OK and began a fulfilling and successful career selling real estate. She formed many lifelong friendships and won numerous awards during her real estate career which spanned over 40 years. She reluctantly retired from real estate at age 79. In January of 2014 Bettye moved to Tulsa, OK. She was able to spend much time with her daughters and granddaughters during the next two years.

Bettye was preceded in death by her father, Dewey W. Smith, her mother, Vivian Phillips, her stepfather, Max Phillips and her brother, Wayne Smith.

She is survived by her daughter Deborah Austin and son-in-law Brent Johnson of Tulsa, OK and their two daughters, Morgan and Lindsay; her daughter Sonya Nagle and son-in-law Michael Nagle of Joplin, MO and their three daughters, Betsy James and husband Nick, Mary Nagle and Rebecca Nagle. Other family survivors include her brother, Larry Max Phillips and his wife Carolyn, her sister Maxine Ernest and her husband David. She is also survived by the following nieces and nephews: Kim Scherler, Kevin Smith, Brian Ernest, Brad Ernest, Shellie Hart, Jamie Dilbeck and Crystal Norton.