Betty Lou Miller Giddens

Betty Lou Miller Giddens, 74, of Clyde, TX, died in Abilene December 7, 2013 at a local hospital. Memorial services are planned for Friday, December 13, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Abilene, with the Rev. Felicia Hopkins officiating. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Betty was born in Abilene in 1939 to Lois “Dusty” and Rubinell “Dugie” Miller. She grew up in Abilene, attending College Heights Elementary School, North Junior High School and graduating from Abilene High School in 1957. She graduated from McMurry (then) College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science Degree and a major in education. She was a member of Delta Beta Epsilon social club. After teaching in elementary school in Fort Worth for 30 years, she returned to the Abilene area and settled in Clyde. She renewed her attendance at St. Paul United Methodist Church, where she had been baptized as a child. She was a member of the Beacon Sunday School Class, and worked toward organizing and updating the church historical archive; she also made the four-year commitment to faithfully attend the St. Paul Bible study, Disciples. A longtime hobby that she enjoyed was the acquisition of numerous pieces of milk glass; she also did a great deal of research on her family history. She organized records and stayed in touch with many of her classmates from high school, participating in five-year reunions. She also looked forward to attending McMurry Homecoming and keeping in touch with her fellow alumni. The written word was so important to her that she hated to see incorrect grammar and spelling; she was a true guardian and protector of these rules. She participated in Friends of the Abilene Public Library and the Library’s Cover-to-Cover Book Club. The collecting of books on Texas and Western history was a true passion for her. One of her great joys was the publication of the book “The Johnson-Sims Feud” by State Historian of Texas Bill O’Neal of Carthage, TX. The book is dedicated to Betty, and the author acknowledged his gratitude for the support of his work and information she provided for the book, which concerned her great-grandfather “Pink” Higgins, whom she referred to as her “gunfighter” ancestor. Survivors are a daughter, Jenny Lou Giddens of Arlington, TX, foster son Jim Walker of Longmont, CO, Jenny’s father and step-mother Joe and Georgie Giddens of Bearden, AK; former sisters-in-law Betty Giddens Bell (husband Folsom) of Dallas and Nancy Giddens Berger (husband Arthur) of Bedford, TX. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, relatives Janice Murphy Tiner, Louie Bob and Jo Ann Davis, Rusty Leher, and Bob Terry. Her many friends will miss her laughter, her intelligence, and her brave spirit. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Betty Lou’s memory may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church, McMurry University, the Abilene Educational Foundation, Box 1999, Abilene, TX 79604 (AHS Class of 1957), or a charity of the donor’s choice.