Betty Laughlin began life as Betty Lou Fox, in Breckenridge, Texas, on October 15, 1933. She grew up riding horses around town with her friends, she carried the flag on horseback in parades, and was a barrel racer in the local rodeo. In high school she took up calligraphy and graphic design, and worked on the yearbook staff, illustrating and lettering by hand. She moved to Houston when she married in 1956, and continued her artistic interests painting in oil, hand lettering for print shops in the pre-computer era, and with photography. She raised two children, Mark and Karen, and was active for many years with Karen in ballet, finally teaching ballet herself for over 20 years. She is survived by son Mark, two grandsons, William and Charles, and by her great-grand-daughter, Riley.