Betty Jane Epps Smith

Betty Jane Epps Smith, 97, of Amarillo, passed away Saturday, December 31, 2022.

The family will receive guests from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at the funeral home. Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 5, 2023, at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.  Pastor Wes Stewart will officiate.  Private burial will be in Llano Cemetery.

Betty was born March 10, 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Earle Leo and Lillian Ross Epps. While in high school, Betty met her husband to be, Larry S. Smith. After graduation, Betty joined the war effort by helping build airplanes at Curtis/Wright Corp.  She worked inside the airplane wings as they were being riveted together.

Betty and Larry were married on May 11, 1946, in St Louis. That fall they moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma where Betty worked on campus while Larry worked on his degree.  In 1950, they moved to Amarillo and started their family.  Steve was born in 1952, and Paul came along in 1955. Having grown up with two brothers, Betty was a perfect mom to two boys of her own.  She enjoyed and supported all their sport events and loved watching football games, baseball (the St. Louis Cardinals were her favorite team), and golf tournaments in person and on television all her life.

The Smiths were members of Tascosa Country Club, and Betty took up golf when she was 40. She was very active in the Ladies Golf Association and chaired several tournaments. She even shot a hole-in-one at Tascosa, something few golfers accomplish. Betty played in two bridge groups and especially enjoyed playing Rummy-O with dear friends and family.  Betty also loved to needlepoint and created many beautiful pillows, and Christmas nativity sets and houses, trains, trees, and Santas.

Survivors include two sons, Steve and wife Susie of Amarillo and Paul of Lufkin; grandchildren, Allison Culp and husband Kris of Amarillo, Eric Smith and wife Suzannah of Omaha, Ryan Smith and wife Miranda of Burkburnett, Shannon Maupin and husband Rob of Colleyville, and Jennifer and husband Kenn of Plano; greatgrandchildren, Molly and Libby Culp, Norah, Ivy and Hazel Smith, Maddisyn and Cash Smith, Kate, Garrett and Rachel Maupin, and Zack and Rachel Jane Ruether. Betty is also survived by nieces Donna, Reta Ann, Catherine and nephews Larry and Richard Epps.

The family suggests memorials be to Saint Paul United Methodist Church, 4317 W Interstate 40, Amarillo, TX 79106.