Elizabeth (Betty) Mabel Sloan Perez of Dallas, TX passed peacefully to her great reward on November 21, 2020 at age 81, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Raised by a medical nurse from Alton, IL and a UT Longhorn from Fort Worth, TX, Betty’s early years were spent in the 1940s oil towns of northern Louisiana due to her father’s career at Citgo Petroleum.
She was born in Atlanta, TX on April 1, 1939 as her father insisted that his children be born on Texas soil. At a very young age Betty’s grandmother, Grace Newlin Sloan moved in with the family. She was a music teacher from Fort Worth and instilled in Betty and her brothers an appreciation of music by teaching voice and piano. At age thirteen Betty started 9th grade in boarding school at Ursuline Academy of New Orleans. The Mother Superior of Ursuline was her great-aunt Sr. Clotilde McGinnis from Alton, IL. New Orleans and Ursuline occupied a tender spot in her heart for the rest of her days. After graduation, Betty started nursing school at St. Paul School of Nursing in Dallas as well as the University of Dallas for the inaugural semester in 1956.
In 1959 after graduation, Betty was hired by Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital in East Dallas and spent her entire working career of 45 years dedicated to the care of those with all levels and types of mental illness and disorders. It was here that the field and study of psychiatry matured with Betty as she saw suffering in the eyes of others, held many titles, received many accolades, trained countless practitioners and made many dear friends.
During nursing school Betty met and fell in love with Alfred Perez. The two were married on December 7, 1959 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Dallas, now named Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Betty and Fred soon thereafter began their family. Betty was the driving force in seeing that their children received a Catholic education and became involved at St. Bernard School and later Bishop Lynch High School. She was a dedicated loving mother, proud grandmother and great-grandmother, and was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was also committed to her extended family as evidenced in the planning and attending of many family reunions. Betty and Fred were long-time supporters of the arts in Dallas, especially the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. They loved traveling and experienced many adventures through the years with their best friends, the group affectionately known as “the Amigos”.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by husband Alfred John Perez in 2010, her parents, Richard Merrill Sloan and Geraldine Flahie Sloan, and brother Lt. Col. Timothy T. Sloan. She is survived by brother David W. Sloan, son Jonathan Perez and spouse Wendy, son James Perez, daughter Katherine Perez Renaud and spouse Gerry, grandchildren Christopher Perez and spouse Dineen, Sarah Perez, MD, Noah Perez and spouse Carrie, Juliet Renaud and Paiton Perez, as well as four great-granddaughters Avery, Murphy, Preslie and Marty Perez.
A Catholic funeral mass and interment service will be a family ceremony at a determined date at Calvary Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum, 3235 Lombardy Ln., Dallas, TX.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Assocation at:
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