Betty Lee Garrett

Betty Lee Garrett, 87, of Abilene, passed away Monday, October 3, 2011. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Thursday, October 6, 2011 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Rev. Bob Ford will officiate. Graveside services will be at 2:00 pm in the Colorado City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday at the funeral home. Betty was born April 16, 1924 in Colorado City, Texas to Edward and Esther (Baushke) Grubbs. She graduated from Colorado City High School. Betty married Jesse C. Garrett on July 10, 1947 in Colorado City. In 1969, she moved to Abilene from Colorado City. Betty was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church where she worked from 1973 to 1992 as the church secretary. Betty began singing with her brother and sister at an early age. Her first debut was at the age of five. She sang at special events, weddings and funerals. In 1945, Betty began keeping a journal of all of the events in which she sang. She had an astonishing number of 558 special singing events written in her journal. Whether it was church events, school events or sporting events, it brought her great joy to watch and attend all of her grandkids special occasions and events. She was preceded in death by her father, Edward L. Grubbs; her mother, Esther Grubbs Thomas; her husband, Jesse C. Garrett; one sister, Hazel Walston; and three brothers, Johnny, Gilbert and Walter Grubbs. Betty is survived by two sons, Mike Garrett and wife Mary Lou of Abilene, Peter Garrett and wife Cindy of Minot, North Dakota; four grandchildren, Jill Garrett of Abilene; Blake Garrett and wife Catherine of Lubbock, Lana Garrett, and Michael Garrett, both of Boston, Massachusetts; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial donations may be made in Betty's honor to the Aldersgate United Methodist Church Renovation Fund or Choir Fund, 1741 Sayles Blvd., Abilene, TX 79605.