Bettye Sue Tullos

Bettye Sue Level Tullos
April 9, 1925 to May 8, 2021

Bettye was the last surviving child of Bertha Mae Howard and James Lunie Level.
Bettye was preceded in death by her sisters: Maeladell, Jonell, Joyce, Voncille, and Frances, and her brother James L. Bettye was born in Nocona, Texas on April 9, 1925. Family reunions were attended often. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church.
Bettye met her husband Ernwood Brinson Tullos at Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth. He entered the Navy in 1944 serving on the USS Bollinger. They corresponded almost daily, and married on June 21, 1945 upon his return. Ernie worked as a lineman while attending Texas Tech in Lubbock, graduating in 1952 while supporting his wife and two little children. They met with other Tech parents and developed the Host family program for foreign students. Holidays and summers were spent with students from Turkey, Peru, Cambodia and Thailand.
In 1962 they decided to travel to Lahore, West Pakistan. Ernie used his electrical engineering degree to add and renovate power lines. After staying 2 years, Bettye and Ernie returned to Lubbock. While there, they visited the foreign students who had become dear friends. Bettye sewed all of her daughter's dresses with her sketches from the best department stores. She also made a majority of her clothes and altered Ernie's shirts. Bettye was very active in the PTA, Girl Scouts, Garden Culture Club president, children's Sunday school, and Bridge Club. Bettye had an artistic and decorating talent, loved classical music and collecting postcards from all over the world.
The couple often went on bus trips with the church Sunday school class to other states. They also visited the western canyon states and Machu Picchu. She never stopped learning. Many people got to know her through Ernie's work as the City Engineer for the City of Denton. She worked as a realtor for a couple of years. After her husband's death in 1999, she had managed to remain in her own home -cooking and enjoying her Meals on Wheels friends, and the couples who brought communion.
Bettye is survived by her son Tommy Lynn Tullos, his son Jeff Tullos, his wife Andrea, and their children: Bryan, Kirby, Mason and Lacy Tullos and his daughter Amanda Tullos Rivera, her husband Bobby, and their children: Regan and Robby Rivera. She is also survived by her daughter Garyesue Tullos Hooper and her husband Glenn, her son Clayton Tullos and his children: Arthur and Matilda Tullos; Glenn's children: Heath Hooper and his wife Gina, Trevor Hooper and his wife Elizabeth, and Hilary Hooper Daniel and her husband Kyle.
Bettye will be buried at Liberty Chapel Cemetery near Nocona, Texas with her family. Graveside service will be held May 15, 2021 at 2:00 PM, with Rev. David Finley officiating.