Elizabeth "Betty" Boaz

After graduating High School, Betty commuted from Corydon to Louisville, Kentucky working in the insurance industry. In 1954, as a young woman, she became the leader of the VFW reserve auxiliary post 2950. After marrying Gratton Boaz on August 9, 1958, they moved to Lexington, KY where she became a homemaker and stay at home mom. In 1967, IBM gave Gratton the option of moving either to Austin, TX or Boulder, Colorado. Betty was quick to point out that it was cold and snowy in Colorado whereas Texas was hot and seldom had snow. To her, there was only one option, he would take the position in Texas. They moved their young family to Austin, Texas, quickly becoming home.

Their love of basketball led them to become season ticket holders for the UT basketball games. They were huge fans of both the men’s team and the Lady Longhorns. When Betty and Gratton retired, they combined their love of basketball and desire to travel by attending the Lady Longhorns games throughout the country. Their UT enthusiasm spread to include volleyball. Betty never missed a basketball or volleyball game. When her health no longer allowed her to physically attend the games, she continued to be a loyal fan, watching them on TV.

The Church has always been an integral part of her life. She was an active member of Fountain Evangelical United Brethren Church in Corydon, IN. Throughout her life, Fountain held a special place in her heart. Not only was she married there, all three of her boys were baptized at Fountain. After moving to Austin, St. John’s UMC became her church home, where she served as Treasurer and a Trustee. She was very active in the United Methodist Women serving as President and Treasurer multiple times. As Betty and Gratton grew older, they transferred their membership to Covenant UMC to be closer home. After selling their home, they moved one more time to Bethany UMC, shortening their commute even more. Although she wasn’t as active in the church as she’d previously been, she continued to worship and attend Sunday School every week, as long as her health allowed.

She was an active member of TOPS from 1990 until 2013 when she stopped driving and could no longer attend the meetings. She loved needle point and was exceptionally good with cross-stitch. She continued with it until her eye site failed and she was forced to stop. Her family proudly displays her art in their homes.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Gratton “Bo” Boaz, her son Timothy “Tim” Boaz and her siblings: Alice Tindall, Herman Pitman, Russell Pitman and her twin brother Robert Pitman. She is survived by the loving legacy of her 3 sons and their respective families: Daughter-in-law Melissa Boaz, Tom and Sloan Boaz and Ted and Darlene Boaz. Eight grandchildren: Richard and Kate Boaz, Theran and Clay Smallwood, Katie Boaz, Anthony and Logan Boaz, Marti and Anthony Evans, Evan Boaz, Greg Boaz and Kat Limon, Ali and Zak Quinn. Twelve great-grandchildren: Andrew Boaz, Isaac Boaz, Elijah Boaz, Rachel Boaz, Joshua Boaz, Sophia Boaz, Micah Boaz, Sean Evans, Jace Smallwood, Preston Boaz, Micah Smallwood and Emilia Boaz.

In lieu of flowers, donate can be made to the Bethany UMC benevolence fund.

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