Betty Lou Brown, seventy-seven, longtime resident of Waurika, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family, Wednesday, May 14, 2008. She was born July 7, 1930, in Rush Springs, Oklahoma, to Jim and Lizzie Lester. Although they were a family of modest means, education was a high priority for the Lester family and Betty earned her bachelors degree in education from Central State College in 1952. She was a dedicated educator and taught in Duncan, Enid, Cleveland, Bristow, and Waurika for many years. She loved her students and helped them see the wonder of reading and writing. In 1985, just before retiring, she was awarded Teacher of the Year in Waurika.

Betty, also known as Boop, took special pride in her four grandchildren, Rachael, Payton, Malcolm and Dylan, often traveling cross-country to watch them participate in sporting events. Betty's true passion was traveling and she visited countries on four continents including Turkey, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, France, England, and Italy. Despite the strain of her illness over the past years she always managed to rally for the next trip. She was an active member of the First Methodist Church in Waurika, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Oklahoma Retired Teachers Association.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents and a twin sister. She also survived her son Dr. Donald Dee Brown who passed away in 1992.

Survivors include: her husband of fifty-eight years, Robert Brown of Waurika, OK; three brothers - Dr. Boyd Lester of Oklahoma City, OK, Carl Lester of Muskogee, OK, and Donald Lester of Port Lavaca, TX; two sons - Dr. Joe Brown and Jim Bob Brown, both of Huntsville, AL; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She leaves behind a large group of friends who will greatly miss her presence.

Funeral services for Mrs. Brown will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, May 17, 2008, at the First Methodist Church in Waurika, with Rev. Trevor Smith and Rev. Reed Montgomery officiating. Burial will be in the Waurika Cemetery under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Waurika. Viewing will be from 2:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday and from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Friday at the funeral home in Waurika. Anyone wishing to remember Betty in a special way, in lieu of flowers, may make a memorial donation to the Donald Dee Brown Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 293, Waurika, OK 73573.