Betty Jo McLaurin

Jo was born on February 18th, 1931, in Cisco, Tx to Reverend Lee Roy O’Brien and Katie Francis Abbott O’Brien. Jo was the youngest of nine children, two that did not survive their early years. Her family ran a farm outside of Cisco, Texas, until the family moved to Big Spring, Texas. Jo met Charlie while attending high school and married on November 5th, 1948. Jo raised her two children while living overseas for eight years before returning to the United States. Once the children were raised, she acquired her real estate license in Texas and Alaska. When Charlie retired, they traveled all over our Country and wintered in their RV in Mexico. Jo started painting in her eighties and loved landscapes. She was a perfectionist and would set a painting aside without signing it until it was exactly how she wanted it. After moving to Buchanan Dam, Texas, she was involved in fundraisers for building the new Lakeshore Library. Many hours were spent fundraising from bake sales, garage sales, raffle tickets for merchandise and visiting local area businesses for advertising support to fund the membership cookbook, Cooking with Friends. She did it all. She made many long-term friends at their Community Library. Charlie was also an avid reader, and she often called on him to join in. Jo/Mother/Grandma/Grandma Mac leaves a hole in our hearts. She loved her family unconditionally. There was always a bed available, a pot of her special goulash, and a soft shoulder to lean on.

Jo survived for one day after her husband, Charles (Charlie) Hugh McLaurin, and then she joined him on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024. She is survived by her daughter Leigh Goding, and husband, Roger Goding. Also survived by son, Charles Scott McLaurin, and wife, Nancy McLaurin. There are four surviving grandchildren: Nate Goding of Lakeway, Texas, Courtney Grijalva and husband Tony Grijalva of Odessa, Texas, Ryan McLaurin of Conroe, Texas, and Jonathan and wife, Whitney McLaurin of Conroe, Texas. There are nine great grandchildren: Leigha Grijalva, Eryn Grijalva, Ashley Goding, Keigan Wilson, Joseph McLaurin, Jordan McLaurin, Jonah McLaurin, Joy McLaurin, and Josiah McLaurin. She is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, the Family asks for donations be made to the Hill Country Humane Society.

Graveside services to be held later in East, Texas. Additionally, a celebration of Life will be held for friends and family in Burnet, Texas.

Special thanks to the staff of Country Oaks Assisted Living. They went above and beyond to enable our mother to live out her days in the best possible way. Thank you so much to the nursing staff at Burnet Seton Ascension Hospital for their diligent and loving care of our mother in the days before she was cared for by Hospice. The staff at Oaks Nursing Center were also kind and caring in her final days.